NATO Calls Emergency Talk on Libya Operations

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says NATO is "completing its planning to be ready to take appropriate action in support of the UN resolution as part of the broad international effort."

The NATO Council is calling Saturday an emergency meeting to examine military plans of imposing a no-fly zone over Libya.

Experts say the Alliance will issue an order to begin military operations in Libya over the weekend. The talks will discuss details of positioning scores of bombers and other military aircraft in military bases in Southern Europe.

The meeting is called after the UN Security Council adopted late Thursday, by 10 votes in favor and five abstaining (Russia, China, Germany, India, and Brazil), a resolution co-sponsored by the USA, UK, France, and Lebanon providing for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya and for further sanctions against the Gaddafi regime.

Meanwhile, leaders from the UK, the US, France and countries from the Arab League are meeting in Paris to discuss military action in Libya under the new UN resolution.

All this happens amidst reports of pro-Gaddafi forces taking over the eastern parts of rebel stronghold Benghazi and fierce street and rocket fights there.

A defiant Gaddafi, who on Friday promised cease-fire, now says the western world will "regret this interference in Libya's internal affairs."