Obama Sending Planes to Evacuate Libya Refugees

Obama reiterates that Gadhafi must step down
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 3, 2011 2:03 PM CST
Obama Sending Planes to Evacuate Libyans
President Obama listens as Mexico's President Felipe Calderon speaks during their joint news conference.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Obama kept up the pressure on Moammar Gadhafi during his press conference with visiting Mexican President Felipe Calderon, reports CBS and the New York Times. Highlights:

  • “The US and the entire world continues to be outraged by the appalling violence against the Libyan people. Moammar Gadhafi has lost the legitimacy to lead, and he must leave."
  • He said the US is sending military planes to the border to help Egyptians fleeing the country get out, and he instructed the State Department to charter civilian aircraft for other refugees.
  • He didn't rule out the idea of a no-fly zone, an idea being met with opposition from other nations, and said the Pentagon is considering a "full range of options"

As for the Mexican visit, the big news seems to be an agreement to end a cross-border trucking dispute, reports the Wall Street Journal. Mexican truck drivers will once again be allowed on US roads, provided they pass safety and skills tests administered by the feds. They had effectively been banned based on safety complaints from the Teamsters, a move that put the US in violation of NAFTA and subjected it to billions in punitive tariffs. The deal will lift half the penalties immediately, and the other half when the first Mexican driver gets the all-clear to hit US roads. (More President Obama stories.)

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