A senior US military officer taking part in the NATO operation in Libya has reportedly stated the intention of the alliance is to eliminate Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

NATO is operating under the mandate of UN Resolution 1973, which calls for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya and a blockade of arms delivery for Gaddafi's regime.

But suspicions that the Alliance's chief intent is the death of the embattled Libyan leader have been fortified following attacks on Gaddafi compounds, which have resulted in the death of one of his sons and three grandchildren.

Sunday Foreign Policy writes that Admiral Samuel Locklear, who commands NATO operations in the naval base in Naples, has revealed to US House of Representatives member Mike Turner that the Alliance purposefully intends the elimination of Muammar Gaddafi.

This is the first information to that effect allegedly coming out of such a senior NATO representative, with many high-ranking officials from NATO countries having previously denied such intent.

According to the release, UN Resolution 1973 is interpreted by NATO as a permission to eliminate a number of commanders of forces faithful to Gaddafi, including the Libyan leader himself.

Admiral Locklear has also reportedly stated that following the eventual killing of Gaddafi, the institution of landed NATO forces in Libya will be required during the transition of power turnover.

In other news, the UN has revealed that between 10,000 and 15,000 persons have been killed since the start of unrest in Libya in mid-February.

More than 900,000 further persons are estimated to have been displaced or have fled due to the turmoil in the country.

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