General Carter Ham, who led the first stage of the coalition air campaign against Libya's regime, acknowledged the conflict between Kadhafi's troops and opposition forces was turning into a stalemate.

Asked at a Senate hearing about the chances that the opposition could "fight their way" to Tripoli and replace Kadhafi, Ham said: "Sir, I would assess that as a low likelihood."

And when pressed by Senator John McCain whether the situation was essentially a stalmemate or an "emerging stalemate," Ham said: "Senator, I would agree with that at present on the ground."

Under tough questioning, the general said a stalemate is "not the preferred solution" in Libya but that outcome appeared "more likely" now than at the outset of the air campaign launched March 19.

The exchange underscored growing concern in Washington and European capitals that the fight in Libya could be deadlocked, with Kadhafi firmly in control in Tripoli and badly-organized rebels unable to turn the tide even under the cover of NATO-led air power.

Ham, head of the US military's Africa Command, said bombing raids had undercut the regime's ability to target civilians -- except in the besieged city of Misrata.

The air strikes launched last month had "significantly degraded" the regime's ability "to attack civilians with the notable omission of Misrata," he said.

The rag-tag rebels are struggling to defend Misrata, Libya's third city, under an onslaught from better armed regime forces equipped with tanks and artillery.

Ham said Kadhafi had moved tanks and troops into parts of the city and that had made air strikes more difficult to carry out without endangering civilians.

The US military pulled back about 50 combat aircraft this week from the UN-mandated air campaign as NATO took command of the Libya operation, which is designed to protect civilians from attacks by regime troops.

But Ham said the US AC-130 gunships, which can target tanks and ground targets with powerful guns, were now available to the NATO commander of the air operation if he needed them.

US military leaders had previously said the side-firing AC-130 aircraft, along with other ground-attack planes and fighters, would be withdrawn and placed on standby, pending a request from the NATO alliance.

Ham said another warplane designed to knock out tanks, the A-10 Thunderbolt, was "on-call" but not immediately available to NATO like the AC-130 gunships.

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