NATO to formally end Libya operations Friday

Three Dutch F-16 aircraft prepare for landing at the Decimomannu... — Three Dutch F-16 aircraft prepare for landing at the Decimomannu airbase, in Sardinia, Italy. French fighter jets struck an air base deep inside Libya and destroyed one of Gadhafi's planes.(March 24, 2011) Credit: AP

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOctober 27, 2011

NATO's secretary-general says the alliance will on Friday confirm a decision to end its operations in Libya by Oct. 31.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Thursday after meetings in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the U.N.'s resolution adopted earlier in the day "reflects that we have fully accomplished our mandate to protect the civilian population of Libya, so now we have firm ground for terminating our operations as we decided to do a week ago."

He said that even though he does not "foresee a major NATO role in Libya in the post-conflict period," if requested the alliance could assist the new Libyan government in the transformation to democracy, particularly in the areas of defense and security sector reforms.

Fogh Rasmussen added that he wouldn't expect new tasks beyond that.

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