US Expects Wider Arab Role in Libya Coalition Skip to main content

US Expects Wider Arab Role in Libya Coalition

An Italian air force Eurofighter Typhoon jet takes off from the Gioia del Colle air base near Bari, Southern Italy, March 22, 2011
Photo: AP
An Italian air force Eurofighter Typhoon jet takes off from the Gioia del Colle air base near Bari, Southern Italy, March 22, 2011

A senior Obama administration official said Tuesday he expects more Arab countries to announce contributions to no-fly-zone enforcement over Libya in the next few days. He also said the United States will transition shortly into only a "supporting" role in the military operation.

Despite the Arab League endorsement of the no-fly zone, only Qatar his thus far tangibly contributed to the air operation.

But a senior Obama administration official who briefed reporters said he expects announcements of additional "concrete" Arab contributions in the next few days.

The official, who spoke on terms of anonymity, also said he expects, in the very near future, an agreement under which NATO will provide command and control for the coalition.

He said the United States, which led the opening phase of the military operation to neutralize Libya’s air defense system, will revert in the coming days to a "supporting role" in such tasks as jamming communications, aerial refueling and intelligence support.

The senior official spoke as diplomatic contacts continued among NATO members about the alliance role in enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 1973, setting up the no-fly zone to protect civilians from forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi.

The United States has made clear it wants to see NATO coordinate the broader enforcement operation that would include Arab League member countries and others.

President Obama himself led the lobbying effort with calls Tuesday to British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy as he continued his Latin American trip

At a news briefing, State Department Acting Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said NATO is the logical coordinating body for the coalition.

"We have said that we believe NATO has certain command-and-control capabilities as the coalition moves forward, as we move into a different phase, that are indeed very useful," said Toner. "I know that discussions are going on via the North Atlantic Council. As you know that’s a forum for frank exchanges, candid exchanges, but they are confidential exchanges."

The senior administration official, who spoke in a conference call with State Department reporters, stressed that Resolution 1973 "is not about regime change" and that its implementation does not require the departure of Muammar Gadhafi.

At the same time he said a decision by Libyans about his future can only be made in an environment "free of violence and political oppression."

He said the U.S. view, which is widely shared in the world community, is that Mr. Gadhafi has lost the legitimacy to lead and that a stable future for the country "requires a transition of leadership."

In other developments, the State Department announced that Turkey has agreed to become the United States’ "protecting power" in Libya - handling its diplomatic interests - given the closure of the U.S. embassy in Tripoli.

Meanwhile the Treasury Department announced U.S. sanctions against 14 affiliate firms of Libya’s National Oil Corporation in keeping with financial terms of Resolution 1973.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/US-Expects-Wider-Arab-Role-in-Libya-Coalition--118472684.html
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chronology of the Press in Burma

1836 – 1846 * During this period the first English-language newspaper was launched under British-ruled Tenasserim, southern  Burma . The first ethnic Karen-language and Burmese-language newspapers also appear in this period.     March 3, 1836 —The first English-language newspaper,  The Maulmain Chronicle , appears in the city of Moulmein in British-ruled Tenasserim. The paper, first published by a British official named E.A. Blundell, continued up until the 1950s. September 1842 —Tavoy’s  Hsa-tu-gaw  (the  Morning Star ), a monthly publication in the Karen-language of  Sgaw ,  is established by the Baptist mission. It is the first ethnic language newspaper. Circulation reached about three hundred until its publication ceased in 1849. January 1843 —The Baptist mission publishes a monthly newspaper, the Christian  Dhamma  Thadinsa  (the  Religious Herald ), in Moulmein. Supposedly the first Burmese-language newspaper, it continued up until the first year of the second Angl
Post a Comment
Read more

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do
1 comment
Read more

Is 160 enough? One Indian man's family

By Sumnima Udas , CNN October 31, 2011 -- Updated 0857 GMT (1657 HKT) Ziona, center, with his has 39 wives, 86 children and 35 grandchildren in rural Baktwang village, India. STORY HIGHLIGHTS One man in India is the patriarch of a family of 160 in rural India Ziona, who only goes by his first name, has 39 wives, 86 children and 35 grandchildren. Ziona's father, Chana, founded the Christian sect in Baktwang that promotes polygamy "I never wanted to get married but that's the path God has chosen for me" Mizoram, India (CNN) -- The world's population hits 7 billion this week, but Ziona, the patriarch of what may be the biggest family in the world, is not bothered. "I don't care about overpopulation in India ... I believe God has chosen us to be like this (have big families). Those who are born into this family don't want to leave this tradition so we just keep growing and growing," he says with a smile. Ziona, who only goes by his f
Post a Comment
Read more