'Gaddafi's forces continue to use violence against Libyans'

"We believe that Gaddafi's forces are still endangering the lives of Libyan citizens. The regime is still enacting violence against their own people.

We do believe that there are still forces of the old Libyan military that remain loyal to Colonel Gaddafi," Capt John Kirby, spokesman of the Joint Chief of Staff, told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.

"The military mission is not about Colonel Gaddafi. It's about enforcing a UN mandate which is still in effect," Kirby said.

"I thin, by any measure at this point it's been a success. The no-fly zone, the civilian protection mission, the cooperation between the United States and our NATO partners has been critical to the success we've seen," he said.

The US, he said, has made it clear to the Transitional National Council that the international community takes human rights very seriously and hopes that they conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the ideals that many Libyans have tried to voice in recent months.

"And we'll see where things head, but I wouldn't engage in speculation," he said in response to a question.

Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesman George Little said that the UN-mandated NATO mission hasn't achieved its goal in Libya, which is protection of civilians. He reiterated that capturing Gaddafi is not a part of the mission.

"The mission that we've set forward from the beginning is protecting the civilian populations of Libya against pro- Gaddafi forces," he said, adding that the NATO operation has shown the power of international partnership.