US tells Qadhafi to step down, abandon threats

MADRID: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Libyan leader Moamer Qadhafi on Saturday to step down instead of brandishing threats of attacks on European civilians.

Clinton, on a visit to NATO ally Spain, demanded Qadhafi deliver democracy rather than menaces and vowed that the military alliance would complete its mission to protect Libyans from his regime.

"Instead of issuing threats, Qadhafi should put the well-being and interests of his own people first and he should step down from power and help facilitate a democratic transition," the secretary of state said.

"The NATO-led mission is on track and pressure on Qadhafi is mounting and the rebels have been gaining strength and momentum. We need to see this through," she told a news conference.

Clinton, speaking alongside Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiminez, was responding to Qadhafi's warning Friday that the Libyan people could one day strike Europe.

"They could attack your homes, your offices, your families could become legitimate military targets because you have transformed our offices, headquarters, homes and children into military targets which you say are legitimate," Qadhafi said in Tripoli.

"If we decide to do so, we are capable of throwing ourselves on Europe like swarms of locusts or bees."

Spain's foreign minister said NATO would stay united in the face of Qadhafi's warning.

"The answer of Spain and the international coalition is to maintain the unity and determination with which we have been working in the past months," Jimenez said.

"We are working together to protect the Libyan people from the threats and violence that Qadhafi is employing against them. We will stay until we achieve our goals."

NATO intends to carry out United Nations resolutions to protect the Libyan people "and allow the Libyan people to fulfil their legitimate aspirations to live in peace", Jimenez said.

"NATO leaders have strongly denied accusations by some members of the 15-nation Security Council that their raids have targeted Qadhafi to achieve regime change.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011