Russia, NATO to consider Libyan mission on Tuesday

BRUSSELS (Itar-Tass) - The Russia-NATO Council will meet
next Tuesday at the level of ambassadors to discuss the operation to
enforce a no-fly zone in Libya after the North Atlantic alliance takes
over the command of the mission, a diplomatic source told Tass on Thursday.
"The situation in Libya will be discussed at the nearest ambassadorial
meeting of the council scheduled for March 29," the official said
following reports that ambassadors of 28 NATO countries agreed on the
handover of the command of the mission to NATO.
However NATO decided on Thursday to join the enforcement of a no-fly
zone in Libya while the coalition of the United States, France and Britain
that has been leading the mission since Saturday will continue operations
so far, Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters.
"At this moment, there will still be a coalition operation and a NATO
operation," Rasmussen said, adding talks were continuing on a possibly to
give NATO a wider role.
However in Washington Vice Admiral William Gortney said the United
States would "hand over the lead ... as early as this weekend," but U.S.
pilots will anyway continue to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya.
NATO was expected to take over the command since Turkey lifted its
objections. Reports said the alliance was likely to deal with military
planning, command and coordination, while political control of the mission
will be entrusted to a special taskforce of the coalition in which
representatives of Arab countries are expected to participate.
The composition and the powers of the taskforce are expected to be
determined at a meeting in London on March 29.