NATO to Enforce Arms Embargo on Libya, Quarrels over No-Fly Zone

NATO chief Rasmussen said in a statement member states have agree plans for handling the no-fly zone over Libya "if needed." EPA/BGNES

NATO member states have failed to agree on whether the Alliance should take over the military campaign against the forces of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

While at a meeting in Brussels, NATO country ambassadors did decide that the Pact will enforce a UN-backed arms embargo on Libya, the member states have quarrels regarding the prospects of NATO running the enforcement of the no-fly zone mandated last week by the UN Security Council.

Ambassadors of the 28 NATO states meeting in Brussels Tuesday decided in favor a plan to use have NATO planes and naval vessels implement the arms embargo on Libya. In addition, they agreed in principle on a plan to enforce the no-fly zone should that become necessary, said a statement of NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

However, key NATO members France and Turkey have raised objections to having the Alliance in charge of the international military operation against Gaddafi, which was started on Saturday by several Western nations plus minor contribution from some Arab states.

France's position is that putting NATO in command would alienate Arab states, thus affecting the opportunities of the international coalition to enforce the UN no-fly zone resolution.

According to French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, France and Britain have agreed to form a steering body of foreign ministers of countries from the coalition and the Arab League, which will convene shortly.

Turkey has opposed NATO's potential command role saying the air and missile strikes against Gaddafi's forces in Libya have already slipped beyond the UN framework.

The NATO meeting on Libya came after on Monday US President Barack Obama declared that the US wanted to relinquish the political control of Operation Odyssey Dawn, and that NATO would be in charge of its coordination.

While major Alliance members – including the USA, France, and the UK – have taken the lead in carrying out the strikes on the Gaddafi regime, NATO's operational role in Libya has been limited to expanded air surveillance.

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini warned that Italy would termination the authorization of use of its airbases by allies for operations over Libya unless a NATO coordination structure was agreed.

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