NATO to take over completely from Libya coalition

NATO is planning to take control of all United Nations-mandated military operations against Libya - fully replacing the United States-led coalition that has carried out airstrikes so far, officials in Brussels said Friday, dpa reported.

Overnight, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance had "taken on the responsibility for the no-fly zone, while the coalition still continues its activities."

On Friday, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told reporters that "NATO is actively considering whether to take on a broader role (...) Without prejudging the deliberations, we would expect a decision to take over all operations in the next few days."

While military command would strictly remain within NATO, Lungescu said an international conference in London on Tuesday would set "the wide political guidance" for action against Libya.



Rasmussen will attend the meeting, she said.

NATO has currently agreed to perform two of the tasks authorized by UN Security Council resolution 1973: enforcement of the no-fly zone and patrolling an arms embargo in the Mediterranean.

Were it to expand its role, it would be expected also to carry out airstrikes against forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi - in the context of the UN mandate to take "all necessary action" to protect civilians from attacks.

NATO Group Captain Geoffrey Booth said control of the no-fly zone would be shifted seamlessly from the United States-led coalition to NATO within "48 hours."

"I do not believe there will be any break in the no-fly zone that is operating, no window of opportunity for anyone to exploit," he assured.

The operation is set be run from NATO's air base in Izmir, Turkey, with overall command in Naples, which already supervises naval embargo operations.

Diplomats said they expected several Arab countries to contribute to the no-fly zone operation, following in the footsteps of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"NATO will fully include contributing countries from Arab countries, from other nations in its deliberations," Lungescu said.

Earlier Friday, the British government welcomed NATO's decision, which it described as a "significant step forward" for the international mission.

A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron also praised the contribution of 12 aircraft by the UAE, which underlined the "real and tangible Arab role" in the operation.

"NATO's decision to assume command and control of the no-fly zone, in addition to the arms embargo already being enforced, is a significant step forward and will ensure that the Alliance's tried and tested machinery is used to best effect", said the spokesman.

Since Saturday, an impromptu coalition directed by the United States and aided by a number of countries, including Britain and France, has taken out both Libyan air defences and Libyan ground forces in order to prevent attacks on civilians.