NATO launches 24-hour air surveillance of Libya

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NATO launches 24-hour air surveillance of Libya

REUTERS | Mar 8, 2011, 05.02am IST

BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON: NATO launched round-the-clock air surveillance of Libya on

Monday as the military alliance considered its next steps to address the North

African country's violent unrest.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen reiterated that NATO had no

intention to intervene in Libya and would only do so if the UN Security Council

called for this -- something analysts say is unlikely due to Russian and Chinese

opposition.

But US ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder said planning discussions were well under

way at NATO to develop a set of potential options, including a possible no-fly

zone, ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers on Thursday.

Daalder said the alliance had already agreed to boost surveillance of Libya by

AWACS surveillance aircraft to 24 hours a day, giving military planners a

detailed view of ground movements as Muammar Gaddafi's forces do bloody battle

with anti-government rebels.

" We'll have a better picture of what is really going on in this part of the

world, " Daalder told journalists on a telephone news conference.

The NATO AWACS planes had been providing about 10 hours of Libya surveillance

every day as part of existing flights around the Mediterranean. A Pentagon

spokesman said that no U.S. aircraft were involved in the new mission.

Rasmussen, speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels, said he did not believe

the international community would fail to act if Gaddafi continued attacks on

opponents, although he said that any foreign intervention could risk a backlash.

" That's exactly the dilemma and that is the reason it is so important we stay in

contact with regional organizations like the Arab League and the African Union, "

he said.

" And the reason why it's important that any NATO operation takes place in

accordance with and pursuant to a U.N. Security Council resolution, " he added.

Gulf Arab states on Monday called on the UN Security Council to impose a no-fly

zone over Libya and requested an urgent Arab League meeting to discuss the

situation.

Getting ducks in a row

Rasmussen said NATO was carrying out " prudent " contingency planning should it be

asked to take the lead in setting up a no-fly zone, and Daalder of the United

States said planners were trying to get their " ducks in a row " by Thursday, when

the defense ministers may discuss the issue.

" Our sense is that a no-fly zone is one possibility, " Daalder said, although he

stressed that it remained unclear how much impact this would have on the

violence taking place.

" When you really look at what is going on, we have actually seen a decrease in

both fighter and overall air activity over the weekend. It really peaked late

last week and it is starting to come down, " Daalder said. " To date, the overall

air activity has not been a deciding factor in the ongoing unrest. "

" A no-fly zone, even if it were to be established, isn't really going to impact

what is happening there today. That doesn't mean we shouldn't look at it, and we

are and we will. But it is not going to be the solution to every problem. "

Over the weekend, leading Republican and Democratic lawmakers urged Obama to do

more to help Libya's rebels, but administration officials remain cautious.

US defense secretary Gates reiterated on Monday any intervention in Libya

would require broad support.

Analysts say NATO's emphasis on the need for a UN resolution reflects opposition

within the alliance to intervention, principally from Turkey, although Germany

and other NATO members have also expressed reservations.

Analysts say the lack of UN or NATO backing would mean that any no-fly zone

imposed by Western forces would have to come about through a smaller coalition,

led by the United States and Britain.

" We would prefer to have Security Council backing for whatever steps are taken, "

state department spokesman PJ Crowley told a news briefing, although he noted

there was precedent for military moves taken without such a vote.

Daalder said NATO was also looking at how to support humanitarian relief efforts

for Libya, including by sending NATO ships to the area and using the alliance's

airlift capability for relief supplies and possible evacuations.

" We would expect and hope that ... by the time the defense ministers get there

we would agree to move in that direction, " Daalder said.