NATO ambassadors have started meeting at a special Sunday session in Brussels to decide whether the military alliance should take over control of all United Nations-mandated military operations in Libya, dpa reported.
NATO has so far agreed to perform two of the tasks authorized by the UN: Enforcing a no-fly zone over the North African country and patrolling an arms embargo in the Mediterranean.
Ambassadors from the 28 member states are now considering whether NATO should also enforce the UN mandate of taking "all necessary action" to protect civilians from attacks by Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi's troops.
That mandate had so far been implemented by a United States-led coalition. Diplomats said earlier Sunday chances were good that NATO ambassadors would quickly approve an operations plan prepared by military officials that foresees a transition to the alliance.
...
