It was impossible, Libyan rebels to overthrow Gaddafi

A senior U.S. general said on Thursday, the Libyan rebels could not have launched an assault on Tripoli and the overthrow of President Muammar Gaddafi.

When asked at the Senate hearing about the opportunities the opposition can attack Tripoli and replace Kadhafi, Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said, "Sir, I rate it as a possibility is very small."

His comments underscored growing concern in Washington and some European capitals that the conflict in the Libyan move toward an impasse, where Kadhafi remains strong control of Tripoli and the rebels who made a mess can not change the situation, even with the help of air strikes NATO leaders, according to AFP reported.

Gen. Carter Ham, who led the first phase of international air raid on Libya, said the bomb attacks have reduced the ability of the Libyan regime to attack civilians - except in the besieged town of Misrata.

Air strikes launched on March 18, "significantly reduce" the ability of the regime "against civilians, except in Misrata," the general said.

The rebels tried to defend Misrata, Libya is now the third city besieged government forces who have better weapons.

Ham said, Gaddafi has moved tanks and troops into parts of the city and make the air attack more difficult to do because it could endanger the civilian population.

U.S. military fighter jets pulled this week from air operations to obtain the mandate of the UN and NATO took over command of the operation, designed to protect civilians from attack government forces.

A number of Western leaders urged Gaddafi, who reigned for more than four decades, resigned amid deadly insurgency against his government. However, he rejected this appeal.

Libya is now battered by international forces in accordance with the UN mandate which was passed on last Thursday (17 / 3).

UN Security Council passed Resolution 1973 when violence reportedly continues in Libya with reports of air strikes by troops Muammar Gaddafi, who angered the West.

For a while almost all parts of the north African country was out of control Kadhafi after a popular uprising erupted in the port city of Benghazi in mid-February. However, Kadhafi troops now said to have successfully mastered more of these areas.

Hundreds of people were killed in a brutal crackdown by government forces and thousands of foreigners hurried out of Libya in the first week of the rebellion.

Gaddafi (68) is a leader in the Arab world's longest and has been in power for four decades. Gaddafi insisted he will stay in power despite the opposition of many parties.

Pro-democracy activists in several Arab countries, including Libya, inspired by the uprising in Tunisia and Egypt who managed to overthrow the government which has ruled for decades.