NATO to continue Libya operation despite Gaddafi death

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance will continue its air operations in Libya until October 31, despite the death of Muammar Gaddafi.

After a meeting of the governing body of NATO on Friday, Rasmussen said the decision was preliminary and NATO would make a formal decision on the matter next week, AP reported.

Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said on Friday that NATO “will now meet to decide when the mission is complete, and once we are satisfied that there is no further threat to the Libyan civilians and the Libyans are content, NATO will then arrange to wind up the operation.”

Deposed Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi died of injuries he sustained during his capture by National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters in the northern city of Sirte on Thursday.

NATO also issued a statement on Friday, saying that an initial airstrike on Thursday morning was aimed at a convoy of approximately 75 vehicles leaving Sirte.

“We later learned from open sources and allied intelligence that Gaddafi was in the convoy and that the strike likely contributed to his capture,” the statement added.

The NTC said on Friday it would declare the full liberation of Libya on Sunday.

NATO warplanes have carried out about 26,000 sorties, including over 9,600 strike missions in Libya since the beginning of the military operation in March.

According to NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil, about 25,000 people have been killed and 50,000 others injured since mid-February, when the Libyan uprising began.