No plans to kill Gaddafi: Obama tells Congressional leaders

Washington, Mar 26: US President Barack Obama briefed top Congressional leaders about his policy on Libya during which he said there were no plans to use the military to assassinate Muammar Gaddafi.

"The President and his team provided an update on accomplishments to date, including the full transfer of enforcement of the 'no-fly' zone to NATO, and yesterday's unanimous agreement among NATO allies to direct planning for NATO to assume command and control of the civilian protection component in accordance with UNSCR 1973," the White House said in a statement after the meeting.

Obama answered multiple questions from the Members of Congress, the White House said, adding that the discussion lasted approximately one hour.

Obama told the lawmakers that there are no plans to use US military to assassinate Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi despite his administration's policy of seeking regime change in the North African country, the ''Politico'' reported.

Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives said, according to Obama, the Secretary of State, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen Carter Ham, the intervention has saved civilian lives.

"As NATO takes control of operations in Libya, Members of Congress will receive a classified briefing from the Administration on these transition plans and our future role when Congress reconvenes next week," Pelosi said.

The hastily arranged briefing came amid fierce criticism from Capitol Hill of the president's decision to strike Libya's defences.

"There was a discussion of how we have other ways of regime change," Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee told ''Politico''

"It's not our role to do anything at this point from a kinetic point of view. It is our goal for regime change, but we''re not going to do it from a kinetic point of view," he said.

More than 20 top US lawmakers were present at the White House briefing.

"The Speaker appreciates the update today, but still believes much more needs to be done by the administration to provide clarity, particularly to the American people, on the military objective in Libya, America's role, and how it is consistent with US policy goals," House Speaker John Boehner's spokesman Michael Steel said.

PTI