Washington: US military has started groundwork for possible intervention in the Libya by shifting naval and air forces in the Mediterranean.
The Pentagon is repositioning warships and planes in the waters off Libya to get ready either to enforce a no-fly zone or deliver humanitarian aid in the wake of civil war that has engulfed Libya, military officials said on Monday.
Military officials said Navy ships and Air Force planes were being repositioned closer to Libya. But, for security reasons, the officials would not provide additional details.
“I think it’s safe to say as part of that we’re repositioning forces to be able to provide for that flexibility once decisions are made…to be able to provide options and flexibility,” Col. David Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters on Monday.
Pentagon officials have been loathe to spell out specific contingency plans they are considering for Libya, but officials have acknowledged that they are preparing for humanitarian missions as well as a campaign to forcibly ground Libyan military aircraft.
International support appears to be growing for a coordinated effort to prevent Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi from using helicopters or fighter planes to fire on protesters or the rebel army.
In Geneva Monday, foreign ministers from the U.S., Italy, France, the U.K. and Germany discussed the no-fly option, as well as the possibility of creating a humanitarian area in Libya under United Nations control.
Meanwhile, US State Secretary Hillary Clinton has demanded the Libyan President Col Gaddafi to step down immediately. She warned that strict action would be taken against those who are involved in human rights violation.
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