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Kirk Says U.S. Should Encourage Libyan People

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk predicts that within a month Muammar Gaddafi will be out of Libya and in exile.

But, in the meantime, he says the U.S. should do everything it can absent military intervention to encourage the Libyan people and further defection by their ambassadors and overseas representatives.

Kirk, a Republican from the North Shore, says the U.S. must issue a clear forceful statement supporting the Libyan people, WBBM Newsradio 780's John Cody reports.

And he says if it's true that Gaddafi has retained mercenaries to defend himself against his own people and his own Army, those mercenaries should face criminal trials in the International World Court for any atrocities they commit on behalf of the Libyan dictator.

But Kirk is also very clear saying: "The U.S. Military should not be involved."

Sen. Kirk praised the forceful statements of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in regard to the toppling of dictators in Tunisia, then Egypt. And he says he wants to see more clear support for the people of Libya.

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