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| Libya conflict: Nato extends mission by 90 days | Libya conflict: Nato extends mission by 90 days |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nato has extended its mission in Libya by a further 90 days. | Nato has extended its mission in Libya by a further 90 days. |
| The extension was unanimously agreed by the ambassadors of Nato's 28 member states meeting in Brussels. | The extension was unanimously agreed by the ambassadors of Nato's 28 member states meeting in Brussels. |
| "We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya," said Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. | "We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya," said Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. |
| The mission was mandated by the United Nations, and led by France, Britain and the US until 31 March, when Nato took over. | The mission was mandated by the United Nations, and led by France, Britain and the US until 31 March, when Nato took over. |
| The mission was given an initial 90 days, which would have run out on 27 June. | The mission was given an initial 90 days, which would have run out on 27 June. |
| Aside from Nato members, the talks at alliance headquarters included ambassadors from the five non-Nato countries participating in the Libya campaign; Jordan, Qatar, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. | Aside from Nato members, the talks at alliance headquarters included ambassadors from the five non-Nato countries participating in the Libya campaign; Jordan, Qatar, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. |
| Civilian casualties | Civilian casualties |
| The decision was practical in part; to accommodate the military planners of the contributing forces. | The decision was practical in part; to accommodate the military planners of the contributing forces. |
| But correspondents say it also aims to send a message to Libyans who have for the past three months been trying to topple Col Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades of autocratic rule. | But correspondents say it also aims to send a message to Libyans who have for the past three months been trying to topple Col Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades of autocratic rule. |
| "Nato, our partners, the whole international community, stand with you," said Mr Fogh Rasmussen. | "Nato, our partners, the whole international community, stand with you," said Mr Fogh Rasmussen. |
| "We stand united to make sure that you can shape your own future. And that day is getting closer." | "We stand united to make sure that you can shape your own future. And that day is getting closer." |
| The Nato chief told a news conference: "The question is not if Gaddafi will go but when. It could take some time yet but it could also happen tomorrow." | |
| Critics of the Nato mission say it has reached a stalemate. | Critics of the Nato mission say it has reached a stalemate. |
| Some of those who went along with the original vote at the UN Security Council - notably Russia - are alarmed that a mission designed to protect civilians from forces loyal to Col Gaddafi has drifted towards deposing his regime altogether. | Some of those who went along with the original vote at the UN Security Council - notably Russia - are alarmed that a mission designed to protect civilians from forces loyal to Col Gaddafi has drifted towards deposing his regime altogether. |
| The Libyan authorities claim that - far from protecting civilians - the Nato air raids have already killed 700 of them; a claim Nato dismisses. | The Libyan authorities claim that - far from protecting civilians - the Nato air raids have already killed 700 of them; a claim Nato dismisses. |