NATO members France, Britain and the United States have acted as individual nations in the air and sea campaign against Kadhafi’s regime, but London, Rome and several other alliance members favour a centralised NATO command.

 

"We believe it’s time to move from a coalition of the willing towards a bit more coordinated approach under NATO," Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told reporters ahead of talks with EU counterparts in Brussels.

 

A European diplomat said: "We don’t know who’s doing what with separate commands. …"

 

"France are [sic] the only ones opposed to a unified command under NATO. It is completely isolated," the diplomat said.

 

But Germany and Turkey have also displayed reluctance about a NATO role. …

 

Turkey effectively delayed a decision as it called during a NATO meeting Sunday for a review of the no-fly zone contingency plans, stressing that civilians must be protected as the alliance mulled its role, NATO diplomats said. …

 

British Defence Secretary Liam Fox told the BBC on Sunday that he hoped NATO would take command of the campaign "in the next few days" but that it is "all dependent upon getting agreement from all the NATO nations. …"

 

Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen, whose country already has F-16s in the air over Libya but also is a committed NATO member, said she hoped that alliance members "who have raised concern would put that concern aside and let NATO play an active role."  (photo: Getty)