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21 March 2011
Last updated at 09:16 ET
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Gen Sir David Richards emphasised how closely the nations taking part in the attack on Libya are working together
The head of UK armed forces, Gen Sir David Richards, has said Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi is "absolutely not" a target for military action.
He said it was not allowed under the UN resolution which authorises military action to protect civilians in Libya.
But, amid signs of differences over the legal situation, government sources said it would be legal to target Col Gaddafi if he threatened civilians.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has warned such a move would be "unwise".
Gen Richards, Chief of the Defence Staff, told the BBC he was "delighted" that RAF Tornados aborted their mission because civilians were in the target area as Col Gaddafi was trying to set a "propaganda trap".
"We're very very alert to our responsibilities to the civilian population," Gen Richards said.
Asked whether Col Gaddafi could become a target himself, he said: "No, absolutely not. It's not allowed under the UN resolution and it's not something I want to discuss any further."
The issue was first raised in an interview with BBC Radio 5 live on Sunday when UK Defence Secretary Dr Fox was asked whether Col Gaddafi himself was a legitimate target.
'Actions, not words' He replied: "Well, that would potentially be a possibility but you mention immediately one of the problems we would have, which is that you would have to take into account any civilian casualties that might result from that.
"And at all times we are very careful to avoid that for its humanitarian reasons, but also for the propaganda reasons that it would provide for the regime itself."
And UK Foreign Secretary William Hague did not rule out the possibility in an interview on Monday, saying he would not "speculate on the targets" as it "all depends on how people behave".
He said the mission was "nothing more, or nothing less" than enforcing UN Resolution 1973 and Col Gaddafi would be judged "by his actions, not by words".
He added: "The targeting that we do in these kind of strikes will always be in accordance with the UN resolution, with an emphasis on protecting civilians.
"I'm not going to get into details of who or what might be targeted... all the things that are allowed depends on how people behave."
He added: "We take the greatest care to avoid civilian casualties, unlike Gaddafi who is happy to wage war on his own people."
US Defence Secretary Mr Gates said expanding the goal of protecting civilians could divide what he described as a "very diverse coalition".
"The one thing that there is common agreement on are the terms set forth in the Security Council resolution.
"If we start adding additional objectives then I think we create a problem in that respect. I also think it is unwise to set as specific goals things that you may or may not be able to achieve."
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell told the BBC the UN resolution made no provision for Col Gaddafi himself to be targeted - and could not have done so under the UN's own charter.
But he said: "I think the position is likely to be that there will be no deliberate effort to target Col Gaddafi but if he is directing operations, let's say, from a command and control centre which is being used to order further attacks on civilians by his own forces and he happens to be there when that command and control centre is taken out, then people will regard that, if you like, as being an acceptable consequence."
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And government sources told the BBC, in response to Gen Richards' comments, that under the UN resolution 1973 there is the power to target Col Gaddafi if he is a threat to the civilian population of Libya.
MPs are to debate the UK's involvement in military action in Libya later, culminating in a vote at about 2200 GMT in the Commons.
The debate - in which Mr Cameron will update MPs on the state of military operations - is expected to begin at about 1530 GMT and continue into the evening.
UK forces have taken part in a second night of missile strikes against Libya.
Tomahawk missiles were launched from a British submarine in the Mediterranean, but RAF Tornado bombers aborted their mission because civilians were in the area of their target.
The UK is part of an international coalition, including the US and France, trying to protect civilians from attacks by Col Gaddafi's forces.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Gen Sir David Richards emphasised how closely the nations taking part in the attack on Libya are working together
The head of UK armed forces, Gen Sir David Richards, has said Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi is "absolutely not" a target for military action.
He said it was not allowed under the UN resolution which authorises military action to protect civilians in Libya.
But, amid signs of differences over the legal situation, government sources said it would be legal to target Col Gaddafi if he threatened civilians.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has warned such a move would be "unwise".
Gen Richards, Chief of the Defence Staff, told the BBC he was "delighted" that RAF Tornados aborted their mission because civilians were in the target area as Col Gaddafi was trying to set a "propaganda trap".
"We're very very alert to our responsibilities to the civilian population," Gen Richards said.
Asked whether Col Gaddafi could become a target himself, he said: "No, absolutely not. It's not allowed under the UN resolution and it's not something I want to discuss any further."
The issue was first raised in an interview with BBC Radio 5 live on Sunday when UK Defence Secretary Dr Fox was asked whether Col Gaddafi himself was a legitimate target.
'Actions, not words' He replied: "Well, that would potentially be a possibility but you mention immediately one of the problems we would have, which is that you would have to take into account any civilian casualties that might result from that.
"And at all times we are very careful to avoid that for its humanitarian reasons, but also for the propaganda reasons that it would provide for the regime itself."
And UK Foreign Secretary William Hague did not rule out the possibility in an interview on Monday, saying he would not "speculate on the targets" as it "all depends on how people behave".
He said the mission was "nothing more, or nothing less" than enforcing UN Resolution 1973 and Col Gaddafi would be judged "by his actions, not by words".
He added: "The targeting that we do in these kind of strikes will always be in accordance with the UN resolution, with an emphasis on protecting civilians.
"I'm not going to get into details of who or what might be targeted... all the things that are allowed depends on how people behave."
He added: "We take the greatest care to avoid civilian casualties, unlike Gaddafi who is happy to wage war on his own people."
US Defence Secretary Mr Gates said expanding the goal of protecting civilians could divide what he described as a "very diverse coalition".
"The one thing that there is common agreement on are the terms set forth in the Security Council resolution.
"If we start adding additional objectives then I think we create a problem in that respect. I also think it is unwise to set as specific goals things that you may or may not be able to achieve."
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell told the BBC the UN resolution made no provision for Col Gaddafi himself to be targeted - and could not have done so under the UN's own charter.
But he said: "I think the position is likely to be that there will be no deliberate effort to target Col Gaddafi but if he is directing operations, let's say, from a command and control centre which is being used to order further attacks on civilians by his own forces and he happens to be there when that command and control centre is taken out, then people will regard that, if you like, as being an acceptable consequence."
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.And government sources told the BBC, in response to Gen Richards' comments, that under the UN resolution 1973 there is the power to target Col Gaddafi if he is a threat to the civilian population of Libya.
MPs are to debate the UK's involvement in military action in Libya later, culminating in a vote at about 2200 GMT in the Commons.
The debate - in which Mr Cameron will update MPs on the state of military operations - is expected to begin at about 1530 GMT and continue into the evening.
UK forces have taken part in a second night of missile strikes against Libya.
Tomahawk missiles were launched from a British submarine in the Mediterranean, but RAF Tornado bombers aborted their mission because civilians were in the area of their target.
The UK is part of an international coalition, including the US and France, trying to protect civilians from attacks by Col Gaddafi's forces.
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