The NATO Council consisting of ambassadors from 28 member-states has decided to take control over the military operation in Libya, RIA Novosti cites a spokeswoman of the alliance as saying.
The spokeswoman did not clarify the process of handing control over to NATO.
Canadian Lieutenant-General Charles Bushar will command the operation. He was the former deputy commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay announced Bushar’s appointment on Friday.
France proposed a structure of political supervision of the operation in Libya, where states participating in the operation, officials from the League of Arab States and the African Union would take part.
The compromise will allow states that do not support the bombing of Libya to enforce the no-fly zone.
The NATO Council approved the embargo of arms export to Libya on Wednesday. 16 vessels and submarines were involved.
Turkey was protesting against intervening in Libya. However, it provided 5 military vessels and a submarine for the operation. Turkey also said that it will provide air support if France agrees to hand control of the operation to NATO.
Libya has been struck by protests since mid-February. Protesters demand Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who has been at power for over 40 years, to resign. International organization say thousands have died in clashes with the Libyan law-enforcers. Libyan authorities deny the information.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution on March 17, introducing a no-fly zone over Libya and allowing a military operation to be started against Gaddafi’s forces.
The operation started on March 19 and was codenamed Odyssey Dawn. UK, France, USA, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Denmark are involved in the operation.
Muammar Gaddafi’s home city Sirt fell into the hands of the rebels, Reuters cites a spokesman for the rebels as saying.
