U.S. House pulls Libya resolution

WASHINGTON, June 2 (UPI) -- U.S. House leaders pulled a bill calling for the U.S. military to withdraw from Libya after a group of liberals and conservatives said they back the measure.

Antiwar sentiment on Capitol Hill has been growing to the point that the House Republican leadership shelved a resolution Wednesday that calls for withdrawing U.S. forces participating in NATO airstrikes to protect Libyans from their leader, Moammar Gadhafi, within 15 days, The Washington Post reported.

President Obama worked to rally public support for the action and missed a legal deadline requiring him to get authorization from Congress. Now the measure, introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, calling for the U.S. withdrawal is gaining traction in the Republican-dominated House.

"We are in control in the House, and we want something on the floor," Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif., said. "Put a resolution up, and let us express … to the president that 'you no longer have the authority of this Congress to conduct military operations in that country.'"

In the Senate, a resolution supporting the president is waiting for a vote.

Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., a co-sponsor of Kucinich's bill, said he would press a vote with GOP leadership during a meeting of House Republicans Thursday.

"I think, in the House, there's probably enough votes to pass this," Burton said.

Also Wednesday, Rep. Thomas J. Rooney, R-Fla., introduced a bill that would require Obama to get congressional approval by June 19 or begin withdrawing troops. Obama missed a deadline in the 1973 War Powers Resolution requiring him to get permission from Congress within 60 days.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Obama would wait to see what Congress does.

"We feel strongly that the president has acted in a way that is consistent with the War Powers Resolution," Carney said.