Canadian general leads NATO in Libya

Two US airforce F16 sits on the tarmac as a C17 takes off at the Aviano air base on March 25, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171668.html

The deputy commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has taken charge of NATO's operations in Libya for enforcing a no-fly zone.

Canadian Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard is also responsible for enforcing an arms embargo on Libya sanctioned by the UN Security Council two weeks ago.

NATO members, on Thursday, agreed to take control of the military operation in Libya.

Moreover, NATO foreign ministers will meet in London on Tuesday to further discuss the role the alliance may play in the operation against the forces of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Gen. Bouchard was involved in military operations in Iraq, and is currently based at the Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy.

This is while Western-led forces have carried out a seventh day of airstrikes against forces loyal to Gaddafi.

Libyan state TV said on Friday "long-range missiles have hit civilian and military sites in the capital Tripoli and the eastern city of Tajura."

The Pentagon said 12 countries are involved in the Libya war seeking to enforce the no-fly zone -- including two Arab nations, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

A senior US official said the UAE had contributed 12 aircraft.

Germany has already announced that it has pulled out of NATO operations in the Mediterranean and Italy said it would review the use of its bases for attacks on Libyan regime forces unless NATO leads the operations.

Russia, China and India as well as several other countries have also opposed the military campaign in Libya.