'Give up war or face assassination', Liam Fox warns Gaddafi

Apr 26, 2011 |

London

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British Defence Secretary Liam Fox has warned Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his loyalists to give up their fight against civilians in that country or face possible assassination.

“If the regime continues to wage war on its people, those who are involved in those command-and-control assets need to recognise that we regard them as legitimate targets,” the Daily Mail quoted him, as saying while leaving for the US.

“Those who are... controlling the regime's activities against its own people, would have to recognise the risks they would have if they were there during Nato strikes. Colonel Gaddafi is the one who is standing in the way of a peaceful resolution in Libya,” he added.

Dr. Fox, and Britain’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, will meet Pentagon chiefs including U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, to discuss the issue.

Dr. Fox’s announcement came after NATO destroyed Gaddafi’s multi-story library and office through airstrikes. The dictator’s loyalists saw it as an attempt to assassinate their leader.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague had earlier indicated that American drones could be used to eliminate Gaddafi.

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