Saturday, July 2nd 2011, 1:37 PM
The United States vowed to continue to pressure Colonel Khadafy to step down and to protect Libyan citizens despite the dictator's threats of retaliatory attacks in Europe.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday that Western powers were undeterred from their mission to remove the despot from power after his four decades of erratic and often violent rule.
"Instead of issuing threats, he should be putting the well-being and interests of his own people first," Clinton said in Spain, on the last stop of a three-nation European tour.
"He should step down from power."
Khadafy said Friday that Europe should be prepared to face retaliation if NATO air strikes continued against his regime.
Speaking in an audio message broadcast via state television to a group of supporters rallying in Tripoli, he said people should "get ready to end the fight," and "homes, offices and families" in Europe would become targets.
Clinton said she was not intimidated by the strong-armed tactics and the rebel forces the West has been assisting were "gaining strength and momentum".
"We need to see this through," Clinton added.
British officials said they were taking Khadafy's threats seriously but had not instigated any special security measures and were unclear how the Libyan leader intended to carry through on his rhetoric.
Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez said Spain remained as committed as ever to helping and assisting forces seeking to overthrow Khadafy.
"We will continue exerting the same military and political pressure," Jimenez said, standing beside Clinton at the same press conference
"To protect Libyan citizens from the threat and the use of military violence by Colonel Khadafy.
With News Wire Services
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