US to Quit Its Libya Air Combat Role

Supporters of Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi hold a poster of him in the heavily fortified military barracks and compound of Bab Al Azizia in Tripoli. Photo by BGNES

The Pentagon is moving to pull out its warplanes out of the willing coalition airstrikes in Libya, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Admiral Mike Mullen have revealed.

The American combat missions would end on Saturday, with NATO partners and other coalition nations picking up the slack, according to Sky News.

The US has also stated it does nor consider arming the Libyan rebels, who are currently struggling to hold back the better trained Gaddafi forces.

"My view would be, if there is going to be that kind of assistance to the opposition, there are plenty of sources for it other than the United States," Gates said, as cited by NBC.

On Friday, it was reported that a Libyan envoy, representing embattled dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has been in London in the past few days for negotiations with British officials in a move to secure his possible exit strategy.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!