US State Department legal adviser Harold Koh told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that assassinating a foreign head of state is banned under an executive order and "that executive order is in force" in the conflict.
"The assassination of a head of state is restricted by executive order," Koh told Democratic Senator James Webb, who has sharply criticized Obama`s handling of the conflict in Libya.
Pressed on the issue by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Koh stressed: "NATO does not target individuals" and said the alliance`s "rules of engagement" make clear that they are not targeting Kadhafi.
In a brief session with reporters, Koh insisted: "We`re not targeting Kadhafi. We don`t target individuals."
The Libyan regime claimed on May 1 that a NATO raid killed Kadhafi`s youngest son and three grandchildren but that the strongman leader escaped unhurt in what it called a deliberate assassination attempt.
NATO raids have destroyed Kadhafi offices in Tripoli, which the alliance says were being used as command-and-control centers. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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