Kerry suggests 'cratering' Libyan airports to disable Gaddafi's air force as White House backs away from no-fly zone proposal



Senator's comments in response to Secretary of Defense's claim that Libyan air defences would have to be destroyed to protect U.S. pilots

John McCain: USAF would not be tested by Gaddafi's 'somewhat antiquated' anti-aircraft defences

Obama's chief of staff: Some people who talk about no-fly zone have 'no idea what they're talking about'

British special forces team leaves Libya after rebel guards captured them with weapons and fake passports

Embarrassment for British government, which vows to send more diplomats and 'ensure demise of Gaddafi regime'

U.S. Senator John Kerry has proposed that America not only set up a no-fly zone over Libya but bomb its airports and runways to temporarily disable Moammar Gaddafi's air power.

The high-profile Democrat Senator added that the U.S. and its allies should be committed to disarming Gaddafi if he threatened mass killings with fighters and helicopters.

His comments are in direct opposition to statements from White House chief of staff Bill Daley and Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, who are both cautioning against fighting talk and committing U.S. military involvement in the area.

Libyan debate: Senator John Kerry said a no-fly zone was necessary over Libya, and the U.S. should consider bombing airports - an opinion in direct contradiction to comments from White House chief of staff Bill Daley



Mr Gates said a no-fly zone would effectively be an act of war, as Libyan air defences would have to be taken out to protect U.S. pilots.

And Mr Daley said people who talked of a no-fly zone had 'no idea what they're talking about'.

But Mr Kerry said he believed a no-fly zone was not considered military intervention, and said there were other options to destroying Libya's air defence system.

Speaking on CBS's Face The Nation today, he said: 'That's actually not the only option. One could crater the airports and the runways and leave them incapable of using them for a period of time.'

Mr Kerry is among a growing number of lawmakers continuing a drumbeat for military action in in the strife-torn African nation. As the debate rages in America of what to do to stop the killing in Libya, the country itself is descending into a bloody civil war.

Held: Rebels fire multiple rockets from a launcher near Bin Jawad, which was reportedly recaptured by Gaddafi today. Rebel forces are being outgunned by Gaddafi air power

Loyal: Pro-Gaddafi supporters fill a square in central Tripoli. While the U.S. debate heats up over what to do in the region, Gaddafi forces have begun recapturing rebel positions

Mr Daley attacked growing calls for a no-fly zone, saying: 'Lots of people throw around phrases of 'no-fly zone' and they talk about it as though it's just a game, a video game or something.



'Some people who throw that line out have no idea what they're talking about.'

The administration has said that all options are on the table but any military action must be an international effort.

The U.S. has moved military forces closer to Libyan shores, imposed an arms embargo on the country and frozen billions in the country's foreign assets.

But Republican Senator John McCain said this was still not far enough, adding that a no-fly zone would not be much of a stretch for a U.S. Air Force against the 'somewhat antiquated' Libyan air defences.

He said it would send a signal to Colonel Gaddafi 'that the President is serious when he says we need for Gadgafi to go'.

Incoming: Rebel fights jump out of the way after shrapnel explodes near their position in Bin-Jawad

Counter-attacks: A rebel soldier receives treatment in an ambulance after fighting near Bin Jawad

Armed: Clashes have taken place in Misrata, Ras Lanuf and Zawiya as government forces hit back at rebels

Defiant: Gaddafi supporters gather in Green Square, where earlier heavy gunfire was heard as troops celebrated winning back Ras Lanuf

He added: 'It would also be encouraging to the resistance, who are certainly outgunned from the air.'

Mr McCain also appeared to disagree with Mr Daley, saying that the military did not have to rush straight for bombing air defences.

He said the U.S. could provide rebel forces with intelligence, training and other assistance to help them form a provisional government in Benghazi.



The debate came on the same day a British special forces team was released by Libyan rebel forces after it was captured in the city of Benghazi.



The eight-strong group, which was escorting a junior diplomat, left the country bound for Malta on board HMS Cumberland.



However, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said his government intended to send further diplomatic personnel soon to 'strengthen dialogue' with rebel leaders.



Rallying cry: A boy holds a pistol belonging to a pro-Gaddafi soldier at a rally in Tripoli today, left, and a Filipino worker who fled to Manila wears a jacket in Manila airport which describes his ordeal



Free! Bangladeshi nationals are evacuated from Libya on the Greek Ionian King. Three were killed and several missing after reportedly jumping off the ship as it approached Chania, in Crete

He said: 'I can confirm that a small British diplomatic team has been in Benghazi. The team went to Libya to initiate contacts with the opposition. They experienced difficulties, which have now been satisfactorily resolved. They have now left Libya.

'We intend, in consultation with the opposition, to send a further team to strengthen our dialogue in due course. This diplomatic effort is part of the UK's wider work on Libya, including our ongoing humanitarian support.



'We continue to press for Gaddafi to step down and we will work with the international community to support the legitimate ambitions of the Libyan people.'

The episode was an embarrassment for the British government, as it was forced to acknowledge the presence of the team, believed to be from the SAS.



Embarrassing admission: Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague revealed UK SAS troops had been 'captured' by Libyan rebels

It is thought the soldiers, who were dressed as civilians, were challenged by a rebel guards as they approached a compound in Benghazi and detained after the Libyan rebels found fake passports and weapons.



The elite unit had been escorting the diplomat through rebel-held territory in the east of the country to put him in touch with opposition leaders.



But the appearance of SAS soldiers alongside the diplomat 'angered Libyan opposition figures who ordered the soldiers to be locked up in a military base', The Sunday Times reported.



Opponents of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi are concerned he could use evidence of Western military interference to strengthen support for his regime.



The battle for control of the county continues to rage and fears are growing over the impact of instability in the region on oil prices.

Airstrikes by Gaddafi's forces reportedly hit the strategic oil port of Ras Lanuf, but failed to reclaim it.



They fared better in the town of Bin Jawwad - about 110 miles east of Gaddafi's birthplace of Sirte - and are apparently back in control.



In the capital Tripoli, residents awoke before dawn to the crackle of unusually heavy and sustained gunfire that lasted for at least two hours.

