20110327
reuters

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO states could agree in hours for the alliance to take over command of military operations in Libya from coalition forces, a NATO official said on Sunday.

The agreement could be made at a meeting of NATO ambassadors due at about 1600 GMT, the official said, adding that the military committee of the 28-nation alliance had finalised its operations plan.

"That's a good sign," the official said. "Either the operations plan is approved by the ambassadors tonight, or that may happen tomorrow. Either way, it's a matter of hours."

An agreement by ambassadors would mean the council of the NATO states would take political control of all military operations, including ground strikes to protect civilians, from a coalition led by France, the United States and Britain.

However, a high-level body to include Arab states expected to emerge from an international conference in London on Tuesday, would give "broad political guidance", the official said.

FRENCH, TURKISH DIFFERENCES

A decision for NATO to take over military operations has been delayed by disagreements between NATO members France and Turkey over political control of the mission, but these differences appear to have narrowed.

Turkey has wanted to be able to use its NATO veto to limit allied operations against Libya's infrastructure and avoid casualties among Muslim civilians.