Washington: Going ahead with unilateral sanctions against the Muammar Gaddafi regime, the US on Friday suspended its military ties with Libya and temporarily closed down its embassy in Tripoli.
Toughening its stand against the authoritarian Libyan government, White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, said more
measures against Libya are in the pipeline and would be announced in due course of time.
The US is also in talks with its international partners with regard to collective action against the Libyan regime including those at the United Nations.
"There has never been a time when this much has been done quickly," Carney said, adding that the US which has very
limited military relationship with Libya and also very limited military sales with them, both of which have been suspended.
"Col Gaddafi has lost the confidence of his people. His legitimacy has been reduced to zero in the eyes of his people," Carney said but was quick to add that it is a matter for the people of Libya to decide on the leadership of the country.
"The status quo is not acceptable," Carney said. The US President, Barack Obama, would meet the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, on Monday, he said.
"Given current security conditions in Libya, coupled with our inability to guarantee fully the safety and security
of our diplomatic personnel in the country, the Department of State has temporarily withdrawn Embassy personnel from Tripoli and suspended all embassy operations effective February 25, 2011," State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said.
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