Brussels: NATO nations are expected to decide on Friday to end the alliance’s Libyan air and sea mission following the death of Muammar Gaddafi, alliance officials and diplomats said.
NATO has been conducting air strikes, enforcing a no-fly zone and maintaining an arms embargo with naval patrols since March 31, in a U.N.-mandated operation to protect civilians.
A decision to gradually wind down the mission was expected to be taken at a meeting of ambassadors of the 28 NATO nations in Brussels, based on recommendations from NATO military commanders, alliance officials and diplomats said.
NATO’S top operations commander, Admiral James Stavridis, said he would recommend to the meeting that the mission be concluded.
A NATO diplomat said the ambassadors were expected to agree to end the operation, “but they will probably decide to do that over the next two weeks or so”.
A NATO official said that at least some air operations would be maintained for the time being.
“Certainly surveillance will continue as we need to continue to monitor the situation,” the official said.
NATO officials said the decision would take into account the ability of Libya’s interim authorities to maintain security.
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