Washington: US President Barack Obama has said that the worst mistake of his presidency was the lack of planning for the aftermath of toppling of Libyan dictator Moamer Gadhafi with the country spiraling into chaos and grappling with violent extremists.
"Probably failing to plan for the day after what I think was the right thing to do in intervening in Libya." Obama said in a Fox News interview.
Obama has repeatedly acknowledged that the United States and its allies could have done more to prevent Libya's descent into chaos following the NATO-backed uprising that led to Kadhafi's ouster and killing in 2011.
Last month, Obama had slammed British Prime Minister David Cameron and former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy for their roles in the bombing campaign they led in Libya.
Cameron became "distracted" and Sarkozy wanted to promote his country during the 2011 NATO-led military intervention, Obama said in an interview with The Atlantic magazine.
Since the downfall of Kadhafi, who was killed in a popular uprising, Libya descended into near-anarchy, ruled by rival militias vying for power while the Islamic State group has gained influence in the country.
Obama's admission may pose a challenge for former secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, widely viewed as the architect of the administration's intervention in Libya in 2011.
