Libya's NTC Asks NATO to Stay 'At Least One More Month'

NATO reacted cautiously Tuesday to a request from Libya's new regime to maintain air operations a month longer than planned as the alliance indicated that consultations were still ongoing.

"NATO said it would closely consult with the U.N. and the NTC (National Transitional Council) before making a final decision," a NATO official said on condition of anonymity.

"This consultation is ongoing and the ultimate decision rests with the NAC," the official said, referring to NATO's decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council.

NATO ambassadors are scheduled to meet Wednesday to make a formal decision on a preliminary agreement to terminate the seven-month-old mission on October 31.

The official did not know whether the NTC had made this request directly to NATO. "I am not aware of any other information other than this public statement. (But) I am not the one doing the consultations," the official said.

The alliance decided to wind down the mission after determining that civilians were essentially free from the threat of attacks from fighters loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, who was killed by NTC forces last week.

But Libyan interim oil and finance minister Ali Tarhouni, who chairs the Supreme Security Council, said earlier Tuesday: "I ask NATO to remain at least for another month."