BRUSSELS: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Thursday ‘time is of the essence’ in the Libya crisis as allied defence ministers weighed possible military action against Moamer Kadhafi's regime, including a no-fly zone.
But Rasmussen, echoing US and British officials, said any military intervention against Kadhafi would have to have a legal basis and support from the region.
Speaking to Nato defence ministers meeting on the conflict in Libya, Rasmussen said "if there is a demonstrable need, if we have a clear mandate and strong regional support, we stand ready to help. "Time is of the essence."
His comments came amid divisions in the alliance over how to respond to the mounting conflict in Libya as Kadhafi's troops assault opposition forces trying to oust him from power.
At Thursday's meeting, the defence ministers are discussing an array of military options prepared by alliance officers.
The tentative options included using naval ships to back up humanitarian efforts, monitoring or enforcing an arms embargo with warships or shutting down Kadhafi's air force with a no-fly zone, a Nato official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.
A draft European Union statement, obtained by AFP ahead of a summit Friday, meanwhile expressed support for continued planning with NATO allies and other countries for "all possible contingencies as the situation evolves, including a no-fly zone."
Many alliance ministers, including the US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, remain wary of a no-fly zone or other military action, saying it poses a host of risks, including a possible anti-Western backlash in the Middle East.
Amid debate within the alliance, French President Nicolas Sarkozy planned to propose air strikes on Kadhafi's command headquarters to EU leaders, a source close to discussions told AFP.
It was unlikely such a proposal would enjoy much support among Nato allies. Until now, the most drastic measure advocated by some Nato members has been the imposition of a no-fly zone, not full-fledged bombing raids.
Rasmussen said in a statement the alliance was ready to consider possible military "options" if necessary and had stepped up surveillance of Libya's air space with radar-equipped aircraft.
"It does not mean we are deciding to consider carrying out specific operational steps today, but it does mean we are watching what the Libyan regime does to its people very closely indeed," he said.
Although Gates and other top US officials have sounded skeptical over a no-fly zone, signs are emerging of a possible plan of last-resort to deter Kadhafi from carrying out a mass slaughter of civilians from the air.
US officials have said a no-fly zone may not deprive Kadhafi of the use of helicopters with which he could launch raids. And Gates has warned that such a move would entail attacks on air defense systems -- which would likely be seen by Kadhafi and others as an act of war.
Washington's ambassador to Nato Ivo Daalder meanwhile has argued that despite raids on rebels by Kadhafi forces, air attacks have not been a "deciding factor" in the unrest in Libya.
Germany has said it opposes a no-fly zone while France has indicated it rejects NATO taking the lead for such a step.
Comments
Comments are closed.