Nato concludes mission in Libya... but a bad omen for the future as Al Qaeda
flag flies over Benghazi
- Nato carried
out 9,600 airstrike sorties in seven months, destroying 5,900
targets - Operation
cost Britain estimated £300million
Last updated at 5:03 PM on 31st October 2011
Nato today announced it was ending its bombing
campaign which helped Libyan rebels overthrow Muammar Gaddafi's
regime.
Officials said all operations for the air and
sea campaign will conclude at midnight on Monday, as the strikes were described
as 'one of the most successful' operations in the history of the 62-year-old
alliance.
Nato stopped its bombing missions soon after
Gaddafi's death earlier this month, but has maintained regular air
patrols.
Change of regime? A trademark Al Qaeda flag was seen
flying over Benghazi's courthouse last week (and above the Libyan flag!!!)


Flying high: The Al Qaeda flag, with Arabic writing and a
moon design, can be seen flying alongside (?) a Libyan national flag above
Benghazi's courthouse
Officials say Nato air forces carried out
9,600 strike sorties in the past seven months, destroying about 5,900 military
targets.
Nato's
decision was announced however, as fears grew over the direction of the new
leadership regime in Libya.
The flag of Al Qaeda has been spotted flying
over the courthouse in Benghazi, while rebels in Libya are said to have imposed
Sharia law since seizing power.
Nato
stuck to its decision to end the operation despite calls from Libya's National
Transitional Council for it to stay engaged longer.
Nato
says it does not expect to play a major post-war role, although it could assist
the transition to democracy
by helping with security sector reform.
Nato
Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will mark the end of the mission by
visiting Libya today, where he will meet Libya's NTC and members of civil
society, the alliance said.
Allies of Nato have been
keen to see a quick conclusion to a costly effort that has involved more than
26,000 air sorties and round-the-clock naval patrols at a time when budgets are
under severe strain due to the global economic crisis.
The U.N. Security Council authorized the
mission in March to protect civilians caught up in the civil war.
Nato
staff temporarily seconded to the headquarters in Naples for the Libyan
operation are being reassigned to their regular duties, officials
said.
The NTC officially announced Libya's
liberation on October 23, days after the capture and death of Gaddafi.
Nato
commanders have said they believe the interim administration is able to take
care of the country's security.
Last week, however, Al Qaeda's black flag,
complete with Arabic script declaring 'there is no God but Allah' and full moon
underneath, was seen fluttering above the Benghazi courthouse building,
according to Vice.com.
The black flag is said to be flying over the
building alongside (?) the Libyan national flag.
Vice.com reported that Islamists in Benghazi
have been seen driving SUVs along the city's streets and waving the Al Qaeda
flag at night while shouting, 'Islamiya, Islamiya! No East, nor
West'.
The Al-Qaeda flag was seen above Benghazi's courthouse
just days after Libyan rebels imposed Sharia law on parts of the country (file
picture)
Success: Nato has destroyed around 5,900 military targets
since it began operations in Libya seven months ago
The revelation in Benghazi came just days
after it emerged that rebels in Libya have imposed Sharia law in the country
since seizing power.
The country's new leader, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil,
said Islamic Sharia law will be the ‘basic source’ of legislation in free
Libya.
The sudden lurch by a country seen as very
moderate towards Islamic extremism will alarm many in the West who supported the
ousting of Colonel Gaddafi.



