Pentagon: Gadhafi's Ground Forces Still a Threat

WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior U.S. military official says Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's ground forces remain a significant threat despite a week of attacks by air and sea power.

At the Pentagon, Navy Vice Adm. William Gortney, staff director for the military Joint Chiefs, told reporters Friday that the Western-led forces hit Libyan tanks outside the town of Ajdabiya. The tanks were preparing to fire into the city, which has been under siege by Gadhafi forces for more than a week.

Gortney said as more surveillance aircraft are brought in, the coalition will be better able to go after the ground troops.

The ability of Libyan forces to communicate with their leaders has been degraded, Gortney said, but the threat to civilians on the ground remains serious.