NATO's Libya mission closer to end -Rasmussen

Belgium: NATO's mission in Libya has moved significantly closer to success and will end soon, the military alliance's secretary general said on Monday.

"Our operation to protect civilians has moved significantly closer to success, but we are not there yet," Rasmussen told a news conference, reiterating that air strikes will continue as long as civilians are under threat.

He said the Libya mission, in its sixth month, had provided NATO vital lessons as it showed the Western alliance's strengths but also its heavy reliance on US military power.

While he said he could not give a precise date for the mission's end, Rasmussen said: "I believe it will come soon."

It will be up to NATO's decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, to determine when Operation Unified Protector can end, based on the assessment of military commanders, he said.

"What will play a crucial role is the capability of the (rebel) National Transitional Council to actually ensure effective protection of the civilian population," Rasmussen said. Brussels, Tuesday, AFP