NATO's top official said Wednesday the alliance won't put troops on the ground in Libya to keep order once the civil war ends and it will be up to the United Nations to help the north African country toward its future once Gadhafi is no longer at its helm, according to AP. Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen spoke after meeting with defense ministers from the 28 members of the North Atlantic military alliance, and after NATO war planes pounded the Libyan capital, Tripoli, with the heaviest bombardment of the campaign. «For Gadhafi, it is no longer a question of if he goes but when he goes,» he said. «It may take weeks, but it could happen tomorrow and when he goes the international community has to be ready.» But when Gadhafi goes, Rasmussen said, it would be up to the United Nations and not NATO to usher Libya peacefully toward democracy. «We do not see a lead role for NATO in Libya once this crisis is over,» he said. «We see the United Nations playing a lead role in the post-Gadhafi, post-conflict scenario.» Fogh Rasmussen appeared to make little progress in his push to have more NATO countries contribute to the military effort. Instead of announcing new military contributions, Fogh Rasmussen told reporters that «NATO nations and partners stressed their continuing commitment to our operation, including by providing the necessary capabilities to continue and conclude the operation.» -- SPA
