NATO to take control of military operation in Libya

BRUSSELS. March 25. KAZINFORM NATO will take over control of military operations to ensure a no-fly zone in Libya early next week, diplomatic sources in Brussels said on Thursday. Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

Turkey's state-run TV earlier on Thursday quoted the country's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying that NATO would soon take control of the operation.

"Compromise has been reached in principle in a very short time," Davutoglu said. "The operation will be handed over to NATO completely."

Turkey expressed reservations about the NATO military intervention in Libya and sought assurances that it would not go beyond the goal of protecting civilians.

France also objected to plans to hand the mission over to NATO.

On Wednesday the NATO council approved the alliance's participation in a mission to ensure an arms embargo against the country using 16 war ships and submarines.

The UN Security Council imposed a no-fly zone over Libya on March 17, allowing "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Muammar Gaddafi's attacks on rebel-held towns. Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version