Washington, February 27: US President Barack Obama has telephoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the deteriorating situation in Libya and said its leader Muammar Gaddafi has lost the legitimacy to rule.
“The President stated that when a leader’s only means of staying in power is to use mass violence against his own people, he has lost the legitimacy to rule and needs to do what is right for his country by leaving now,” the White House said in a statement after the telephonic conversation between Obama and Merkel.
Obama’s call was part of his outreach with global leaders on the unfolding situation in Libya and coordinate urgent efforts to respond to developments and ensure appropriate accountability.
The two leaders shared deep concerns about the Libyan government’s continued violation of human rights and brutalisation of its people, the White House said.
–PTI