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Obama: U.S. Will Hand Over in 'Days'

MIXED MESSAGES

But coalition's goal is to set up no-fly zone.

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Tony Dejak / AP Photo

Speaking from Chile, President Obama said Monday that the U.S. will transfer leadership of the military mission in Libya “in a matter of days, not weeks” and the goal of the current operation is to establish a no-fly zone—but not to oust Col. Muammar Gaddafi, though that’s still the position of U.S. policy. Obama insisted “the first phase of the mission has been completed,” and said the “situation is evolving on the ground,” but he did not provide a more precise timetable. Since Saturday, the U.S. has fired close to 150 cruise missiles against Libyan targets, including one that hit the compound in Tripoli where Gaddafi and his family live.

Read it at Associated Press