NATO prepared to keep up Libya fight - Boston Globe

NATO is not ready to halt its combat operations in Libya even though the war is winding down, the US defense secretary, Leon Panetta, said yesterday, pointing to prolonged fighting around the town of Surt, the birthplace of Moammar Khadafy.
After two days of meetings, the consensus among NATO defense ministers is that a significant threat remains from forces loyal to Khadafy, the ousted Libyan leader, and that civilians remain at risk, although the hope and expectation is that the military operations can end soon, a senior NATO diplomat said.
Panetta said NATO’s commanders would continue to analyze the security situation in Libya and recommend when the operations should end to political leaders, who have the final say. “It is very important that we make the right decisions,’’ Panetta said at a news conference.
He laid out guidelines for ending NATO’s involvement, which was authorized by the UN Security Council to protect Libyan civilians.
Meanwhile, Khadafy called on Libyans yesterday to take to the streets and wage a campaign of civil disobedience against the country’s new leaders - the first word from the fugitive leader in just over two weeks.
Khadafy said the National Transitional Council, which has assumed leadership of the country since then-rebel forces swept into Tripoli in late August, has no legitimacy because it was not nominated or appointed by the Libyan people.
Khadafy made the appeal in an poor quality audio recording, and it was not possible to verify his identity, but it was broadcast on Syrian-based Al Rai TV, which has become the mouthpiece of his resistance.
Revolutionary forces, aided by NATO airstrikes, have gained control over most of the North African nation and forced the leader and two of his sons into hiding.
Panetta said the fighting over Surt, the main vestige of Khadafy’s support, needs to end, and an assessment must be made as to whether organized armed units loyal to Khadafy still exist and, if so, whether they represent a threat to civilians.
Panetta also said NATO must determine whether the National Transitional Council has the capacity to protect civilians.
“There is eagerness to end the mission but also concern than we don’t end it too soon and give inspiration to the pro-Khadafy forces,’’ said another senior NATO diplomat.
A third diplomat quoted the Canadian defense minister, Peter MacKay, as saying, “We shouldn’t go before having put out the fire.’’
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