Lawmakers in United States call decision 'troubling', 'unnerving'

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is about to pull its attack planes out of the international air campaign in Libya, hoping that NATO partners can take up the slack.

The announcement on Thursday drew incredulous reactions from some in Congress who wondered aloud why the Obama administration would bow out of a key element of the strategy for protecting Libyan civilians and crippling Muammar Gadhafi's army.

"Odd", "troubling" and "unnerving" were among critical comments by senators pressing for an explanation of the announcement by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen that American combat missions will end on Saturday.

"Your timing is exquisite," Republican senator John McCain said sarcastically, alluding to Gadhafi's military advances this week.

Gates and Mullen, in back-to-back appearances before the House of Representatives and Senate armed services committees, also forcefully argued against putting the US in the role of arming or training Libyan rebel forces, while suggesting it might be a job for Arab or other countries.

Gadhafi responds

Gadhafi struck a defiant stance after two high-profile defections from his regime, saying he's not the one who should go - it's the Western leaders who have decimated his military with air strikes who should resign immediately.

Ali Abdessalam Treki, a former foreign minister and UN General Assembly president, announced his departure on several opposition websites the next day, saying "It is our nation's right to live in freedom and democracy and enjoy a good life."

Gadhafi accused the leaders of the countries attacking his forces of being "affected by power madness".

"The solution for this problem is that they resign immediately and their peoples find alternatives to them," Gadhafi said in a statement.

The crisis in Libya can not be resolved militarily, but politically, said German Foreign Minister Guido Westwelle, who met with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in Beijing on Friday. He added that the first priority is to force Gadhafi to a cease-fire.

Yang expressed concerns over the crisis, calling for an immediate cease-fire and political dialogue to solve the issue.

As a permanent member of United Nations Security Council, China will continue to play a responsible role in the issue, Yang said.

AP-AFP-China Daily