Libya: U.S. eyes exit, attacks to slow

The Libyan strikes could end soon as the United States hopes to see a transition of power in the strife torn-nation soon and cede control of the military offensive to European allies within days.

With most of the initial objectives of the UN-backed aerial assault achieved, the Obama administration wants to make a quick exit as critics back home get louder charging a not-decisive enough action plan and even the possibility of getting entangled in another Muslim nation.

The America-led attacks on forces of Muammar Gaddafi have already made significant damage to the Libyan ruler?s firepower.

However, Gaddafi continues to maintain a poker face and still has not backed out from the conflicted cities and cease attack against civilians.

But President Barack Obama indicated that the U.S. was keen to back out from Libya and cede power most likely to the European allies.

“We anticipate this transition to take place in a matter of days and not in a matter of weeks,” he said a press conference in Chile.

Meanwhile, the Libya’s government alleges that civilians were dying in capital Tripoli in more numbers in the night missile strikes by the coalition forces enforcing a UN-backed no fly zone.

Gaddafi’s government forces with tanks and rockets were by no means a spent force though even after the air strikes by the coalition forces.

The rebels have failed to take control of eastern towns like Ajdabiya in Zueitina while they also came under attack in Misrata city.

Meanwhile United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said that the international community must ?continue to speak with one voice? on the unfolding developments in Libya, or the humanitarian situation in the North African country will only worsen.

Speaking to journalists in Egypt, Ban urged the full implementation of last week?s Security Council resolution on Libya, which authorized United Nations Member States to take ?all necessary measures? to protect civilians.

?It is imperative that the international community continue to speak with one voice to fully implement the Security Council resolutions,? he told journalists in Cairo after a meeting with Amr Moussa, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

?Thousands of lives are at stake. We could well see a further humanitarian emergency,? he said.

North Africa and the Middle East have been swept this year by popular protests and calls for wide-ranging reform and greater democracy.

The long-standing leaders in Tunisia and Egypt were toppled while in Libya the regime of Gaddafi has waged a fierce military offensive against the opposition movement.

Ban pledged that the UN was moving ?quickly to take effective action? in Libya and trying to both bring an end to the fighting and provide humanitarian relief.

More than 320,000 people have now fled Libya, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and nearly 9,000 others remain stranded at the country?s borders with Tunisia and Egypt.

The number of people leaving Libya continues to rise, with about 2,700 people crossing into Egypt alone on Saturday.

Many of the new arrivals at the borders, particularly migrant workers, say that they are being denied access to food, health care and other basic services in Libya and are also being harassed or robbed at checkpoints.

OCHA reported that food prices have increased exponentially within Libya, notably for wheat, rice, bread and vegetable oil.

About USD 99 million has been received so far for the UN?s regional flash appeal for the Libyan crisis ? just below two-thirds of the USD 160 million sought.