House Democrat: Stop Gaddafi Now

By Kaeun Yu

Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for immediate international action Wednesday to confront Libyan Despot Muammar Gaddafi.

“With the brutal response to protestors and threats of further violence, Colonel [Gaddafi] and his regime have forfeited whatever shreds of legitimacy they had,” Berman said in a press release.

His response comes after Gaddafi’s vows to maintain his leadership.

“I will fight on to the last drop of my blood,” Gaddafi said on state television Tuesday.  

According to Human Rights Watch, the leader’s armed forces have killed hundreds of protesters.

The United Nations Security Council and the European Union are in emergency sessions on Libya this week. Berman is urging them to establish a no-fly zone and to freeze Gaddafi and his supporters’ U.S. and international assets.