WASHINGTON (AFP) – The White House said Wednesday it is up to the Libyans to determine the fate of Moamer Gaddafi once he steps down as ruler of the besieged nation.

“The United States’ position has always been that Colonel Gaddafilost his legitimacy to lead and that he needs to be removed from power, to remove himself from power,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

“It is up to the Libyan people to decide what his future is beyond that. So it’s not for us to say,” Carney told reporters during his daily press briefing.

“There are so many ways he’s really running out of time,” added Carney.

“So the issue here is removing himself from power, no longer being a threat to the people of Libya. Then it’s up to the Libyan people to decide their own future, including what that means for Gaddafi, if he’s not out of the country.”

Despite mounting opposition pressure on the ground, Gaddafi has vowed to fight the five-month-long uprising to the last drop of blood.