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NATO to take Libya mission command soon

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-25 22:13
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BRUSSELS -- NATO was expected to take over full military command of operations against Libya from the United States "in the next few days," alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said Friday.

"NATO is actively considering whether to take on a broader role under the UN Security Council Resolution. Without prejudging the deliberations, we would expect a decision to take over all operations in the next few days," Lungescu told a press briefing at NATO's headquarters, one day after the alliance decided to enforce the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya.

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On Thursday evening, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance would take over the command of the no-fly zone in "a couple of days," but gave no commitment on who would take full command of all military operations.

"At this moment, there will still be a coalition operation and a NATO operation," he said.

Lungescu told reporters the NATO chief was scheduled to attend an international conference in London on March 29, which will set "the wide political guidance" for the military operation, as NATO takes the military command.

"NATO is acting as part of the broader international effort in support of the people of Libya," she said.

NATO military officials said NATO would take control of the no-fly zone in the next 48 hours and run the operation from its base in Naples, Italy.

NATO is to hold a force generation meeting soon for the operation, which will require "a significant number" of aircraft, NATO military officials said, adding some 10 countries had made their contributions.

NATO launched Wednesday an operation in the Mediterranean to enforce an arms embargo on Libya, with 16 naval vessels from Italy, Turkey, Spain, the US, Britain, Greece and Canada.

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