Nato weighing military options for Libya

Thursday, 10 March 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The United States and its Nato allies are weighing the legality of imposing a no-fly zone over Libya without United Nations backing, The Washington Post reported, citing US and European officials.

With a UN mandate far from certain, countries considering some form of military intervention -- the United States, Britain, France and Italy -- are looking for alternative international support, the officials told the newspaper.

The officials suggested international backing could come from regional blocs, such as the Arab League, the African Union or the European Union, and noted that Nato's air attacks on Serbia in 1999 came without UN authorization, the Post said.

In addition to a no-fly zone, the United States and Nato governments are weighing a range of military options that would not require a UN resolution, such as the establishment of an air or naval bridge to carry humanitarian supplies to Libya and naval patrols to block arms shipments to the Libyan government, the newspaper reported.

Facing growing calls at home to help Libyan rebels seeking to end Muammar Gaddafi's 41-year rule, US President Barack Obama discussed a potential no-fly zone for Libya with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday.

Obama and Cameron discussed a "full spectrum of possible responses" in a telephone call, the White House said.