NATO battles rifts three months into Libya war

BRUSSELS: After three months of air strikes in Libya, the NATO alliance is showing growing signs of discord over how to bring a successful end to a conflict that has dragged on longer than some anticipated.

Before NATO took command of operations on March 31, replacing a Western coalition that had launched the first salvos two weeks earlier, the French defence chief had said the conflict would last "weeks."

The bombing campaign has left Moamer Kadhafi's army in tatters. But rifts and signs of fatigue have emerged within the alliance while the Libyan leader clings to power as the mission enters its fourth month on Friday.

France said Wednesday it had air dropped weapons to rebels south of Tripoli, a move that caught its closest allies off guard, with Britain saying it would not follow suit.

Italy dropped its own political bombshell last week when it called for a suspension of hostilities, which was swiflty rejected by the alliance.

The operation's commander, Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, refuses to scale it down, saying NATO has made significant progress by bringing "normalcy" to the opposition-held east while rebels scored successes in the west.

"I do not believe that any scaling down of operation is appropriate nor required at this time. In fact we stay the course," Bouchard said on Tuesday.

The Canadian general said NATO would keep up the pressure until Moamer Kadhafi stops threatening civilians, returns his forces to barracks and allows humanitarian aid to flow freely into Libya.

"We will continue our mission without pause until we have reached those objectives," he said.

The military organisation has extended its mandate for another 90 days, committing it to the mission until at least late September. (AFP)