Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, has said it is "inevitable" that allied forces will "get" Colonel Gaddafi and described the Libyan dictator as a "loser".
British Apache helicopters will be used against Col Gaddafi's forces Photo: REUTERS
By Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor 6:35PM BST 29 May 2011
He said that it was now "very clear" that the civilian population could not be protected by Nato forces while Col Gaddafi remains in power.
The comments come as Nato forces step up attacks on the regime with the deployment of Apache attack helicopters.
The Ministry of Defence announced on Sunday that large "bunker-busting" bombs would now also be available for use by RAF jets attacking Libyan targets.
Over the weekend, Nato forces launched a series of attacks against targets in Tripoli which are thought to include Gaddafi's personal compounds.
In an interview, Mr Fox was asked whether allied forces would "get" Col Gaddafi "in the end".
"Well I think that it's inevitable when you've got the entire international community united behind you," the Defence Secretary said.
"We saw the Russians change their position subtly this week and I think it's now very clear that the international community believes that it's not possible to protect the civilian population while Gaddafi remains in control of the regime. He will go sooner or later and the calculation for those around him is how long they continue to invest in someone who will ultimately be a loser."
Mr Fox also admitted that the deployment of attack helicopters had an increased risk to British pilots. But he indicated their use was necessary as Libyan forces loyal to Gaddafi are hiding military equipment close to hospitals, schools and mosques.
"It's quite right that if we use attack helicopters there is an increased risk -they fly at far lower heights than fast jets would, obviously at slower speeds than the fast jets would, and they are more susceptible," Mr Fox said.
"That's why in taking that decision we have looked at all the variables, the risk to our service personnel which is always very key, but also the fact that we are making progress in Libya, it's clear the regime is having trouble sustaining military activity and the more we can degrade that the more we can protect the civilian population."
He added: "He's [Gaddafi] got a lot of bunkers, there are a lot of facilities that are being used partly as accommodation but also largely for military control and we will continue to degrade that."
Last week, it emerged that the Russian Government was preparing to take a more active role in trying to persuade Col Gaddafi to step down. Officials said they had contacts within Gaddafi's inner circle.
On Sunday, it also emerged that a former British Government minister had travelled to Tunisia for talks with Libya's foreign minister.
Lord Trefgarne, a junior government minister in the 1980s, who is chairman of the Libyan British Business Council, met Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi in Tunis on Saturday.
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