NATO to continue Libya operation

Jun 23, 2011 |

IANS/RIA Novosti

Brussels

Tags:

Libya
Nato

NATO will continue its bombings of Libya, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said.

"NATO will continue its mission, because if we stop, an unspecified number of civilians would lose their lives," Rasmussen said.

Libyan government officials have said that at least five people died in a NATO air strike Sunday that hit a three-storey house in the city. NATO is investigating the incident.

Rasmussen said NATO personnel would ensure everything was done to prevent civilian deaths in the future. The organisation admitted to hitting mistaken targets in the past.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini had spoken for a possible halt in hostilities to allow humanitarian aid through to people. France, however, opposed such possibility.

On June 1, NATO extended the Libya operation until late September.

Libya has been rocked with protests against long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi since mid-February. The international military operation began March 19 following a UN resolution.

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