Up to Libyans to determine fate of Gaddafi: White House

Noting that Muammar Gaddafi has lost his grip on power, the US today said it is up to the Libyans to determine his fate once he steps down.

"The United States' position has always been that Colonel Gaddafi lost his legitimacy to lead and that he needs to be removed from power, remove himself from power. It is up to the Libyan people to decide what his future is beyond that. So it's not for us to say," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters at his daily news conference.

"The issue here is that he needs to step down. He's lost his legitimacy. He is increasingly isolated not just from the world but from his own country," Carney said adding that the opposition has made significant progress. He said that the international community was taking the steps necessary to recognise the Transitional National Council (TNC) as the provisional government.

"In so many ways the Gaddafi regime is running out of fuel and cash. There are so many ways that he's really running out of time. So the issue here is removing himself from power, no longer being a threat to the people of Libya. And then it’s up for the Libyan people to decide their own future, including what that means for Qaddafi if he's not out of the country," Carney said in response to a question.