NATO to police Libya no-fly zone

TRIPOLI: NATO said it would enforce a Libya-fly zone, but stopped short of taking full command of the UN-backed military operations to protect civilians against the forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Western jets pounded targets in southern Libya, on Thursday, but did not stop the tanks re-enter government in the western city of Misrata, the main hospital was besieged by snipers armor and government.
Western commanders hope the rebel forces in eastern Libya to overthrow Gaddafi, but the return of Misrata tanks under cover of darkness has highlighted the difficulties they face in trying to force the Libyan leader to cease fire .
The rebels, who have set up an alternative government in their stronghold of eastern Benghazi, say they need more ammunition and anti-tank weapons if they are to end the rule of 41 years of Kadhafi .
"We need weapons and ammunition. This is our only problem, "rebel military spokesman Col. Ahmad Bani at one point.
France, Britain and the United States has led to the application area of ​​Libya Flight Ban imposed last week by the Security Council of the United Nations, which authorizes "all necessary measures" to protect civilians against Libyan forces of Gaddafi.
Tornado UK launched missiles at night to Libya military vehicles that threatened civilians in the frontline town is Ajdabiyah, 150 km (90 miles) west of Benghazi, the Ministry of Defense said Friday .
Differences on the scope of the UN resolution gave military action against Gaddafi's army led to days of lively discussions within NATO about its role in the operation.
Turkey wanted to be able to use its veto to limit NATO's Allied operations against the Libyan infrastructure and avoid civilian casualties Muslim coalition air raids.
France argued command structure of NATO should operate day to day military operations, leaving the political control with a steering group of ad hoc coalition, including Arab League.
Paris has claimed to have NATO at full load would erode support Arabic because of the unpopularity of the United States in the Arab world. After four days of NATO ambassadors in Brussels reached an agreement argument of all kinds.
"Right now, there will always be a coalition operation and an operation of NATO," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters. The mandate of the alliance does not go beyond the application of the embargo on arms and no flight zone, he said.
A spokesman for the British government said NATO's decision "to take command and control of the no-fly zone, in addition to the arms embargo already in progress, is an important step forward. "
the UAE decision to contribute 12 aircraft of the operation was proof of "real and tangible" Arab role, "he added.
NATO officials said a decision was expected Sunday on whether to expand the mandate to enable him to take command of all military operations and attack targets on the ground in the oil-producing country, to protect civilian areas threatened by the forces of Gaddafi.
Earlier, the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters: "The operation will be fully transferred to NATO and there will be a single command and control."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said military planners were allowed to take on "broader mission to protect civilians" and NATO is well suited to do.
The number of air missions of United States flight had dramatically decreased as other countries have increased their role, "she said.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council there was no evidence of Tripoli was in line with UN resolutions. His special envoy to Libya had warned the government of Qaddafi possible "additional measures" if Libya did not comply with his request-fire. (Reuters)