U.S. leaders: Gadhafi has few friends

WASHINGTON, March 29 (UPI) -- The commander of U.S. forces in Europe told a Senate panel Tuesday Libya's Col. Moammar Gadhafi has run out of friends in the international community.

In response to a question from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Adm. James Stavridis, head of U.S. European Command, told the Armed Services Committee the Libyan ruler has few options.

"I think that the international community, virtually every world leader, has ascribed to a statement along the lines of Gadhafi should leave Libya," Stavridis said.

But he acknowledged that does not necessarily mean Gadhafi's grip on power will end, although he suggested that is the most likely possibility. Gadhafi's military has been battling rebel forces for weeks now.

"As I look at the situation in Libya, senator, you can see a wide range of possibilities out ahead of us that run from a static stalemate to -- to what you just described, Gadhafi cracking."

Jay Carney, President Obama's press secretary, said at a briefing on board Air Force One that al-Qaida may have some members inside the Libyan opposition. But he said the statement put out Tuesday by opposition representatives in Europe embraced the principles of democracy, free elections and tolerance.