NATO considers broader role in Libya

Brussels, Belgium (CNN) — As NATO prepares to take over the Libya mission, alliance officials said Friday they are considering a broader role that goes beyond enforcement of a no-fly zone.

After days of acrimonious discussion, NATO officials hailed their decision to take command as swift and historic and vowed a “seamless” transition of leadership from the United States to NATO, which could happen as early as Sunday.

“In the course of a single week NATO allies have launched both the arms embargo and the no-fly zone operations,” said NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu. “This is a clear demonstration of the allies commitment to fulfill their obligations under the U.N. mandate and to show their resolve to do what it takes to protect the people of Libya.”

But whether NATO will assume the role of protecting civilians on the ground — as mandated by a United Nations Security Council resolution — remains at issue. The operational heart of the mission could hinge on if and when to intervene with airstrikes when civilians appear to be at risk.

A decision on what NATO officials are calling “no-fly plus” could come as early as Sunday after a meeting of NATO Ambassadors.

Beyond that, tense exchanges are also expected at a summit in London next week, where officials will try to lay out how far they are willing to go militarily against Moammar Gadhafi.

“We expect that ministers will set the wide political guidance at next week’s international conference in London to take forward the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1973,” Lungescu said.

Overall NATO command will be based in Naples, Italy, but Turkey has agreed to allow a sub-command stationed at an airbase in Izmir, Turkey. NATO is already supervising naval embargo operations from Naples.

The Turkish air component will help give NATO the credibility it seeks in taking military action against a Muslim nation.

The tone of mission though already seems to have shifted, with NATO commanders attempting to enforce the U.N. resolution to the letter of the law.

“No-fly zones are impartial, there is no one authorized to fly within that zone,” said Group Captain Geoffrey Booth of NATO’s Air Force Command. “It is not necessarily pro-Gadhafi or anti-Gadhafi forces. It’s the impartial enforcement in line with the (resolution).”