London, April 22: NATO’s mission to protect Libyan civilians from Muammar Gaddafi’s forces has expanded beyond initial plans, raising the danger of overstepping a U.N. mandate with damaging political consequences.
Britain, France and Italy said this week they would send small teams of military liaison officers to help Libyan rebels with organisation and logistics, and France has said it would intensify air strikes on Gaddafi’s military assets.
All insisted there was no question of sending in ground troops or of advisers getting involved in the fighting.
The expansion of intervention beyond initially enforcing a no-fly zone and limited air strikes of Gaddafi’s armour has raised some fears of being dragged into a protracted and costly conflict similar to wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and even Vietnam.
–Agencies