Removing Gaddafi not allowed: UK
The UN has not given coalition forces the "legal authority" to remove Muammar Gaddafi by military action, David Cameron has said while US state department spokesman Mark Toner said ousting Gaddafi is the ultimate goal as conflict of interests over Libya intervention became apparent.
The UK prime minister told Parliament a UN resolution allowing strikes on the country was "limited in its scope".
The head of the armed forces said it "absolutely" did not allow the targeting of Colonel Gaddafi.
But there is some confusion, as Defence Secretary Liam Fox has said such action is "potentially a possibility".
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama's administration insisted, after coming under pressure for not spelling out its war aims in Libya, the goal is to see Muammar Gaddafi removed from power.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague did not rule out the possibility of targeting Gaddafi as a legitimate one in an interview on Monday, adding he would not "speculate on the targets".
British prime minister said: "The UN resolution is limited in its scope. It explicitly does not provide legal authority for action to bring about Gaddafi's removal from power by military means.
"We're trying to convince Colonel Gaddafi and his regime, and his associates, that they need to step down from power," said US state department spokesman Mark Toner. "That remains our ultimate goal here."
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