Turkish opposition blocks Nato action against Libya

Sharp divisions prevented Nato from adopting a plan for military airstrikes against Libya today, with Turkish opposition blocking the alliance from approving a strategy.

Unity was further called into question at the European Union, as Germany questioned the wisdom of the operation altogether.

The UN-backed airstrikes mounted so far against Muammar Gaddafi's force by Britain, France and the United States outside of their Nato roles also drew scathing criticism from Russia, a nation with which the alliance would like close strategic cooperation.

"The Security Council resolution is flawed, it allows everything and is reminiscent of a medieval call for a crusade," said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. "In fact, it allows intervention in a sovereign state."

A day after Turkey declined to support a military plan for the alliance to enforce a Libya no-fly zone, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said support was possible but only if Nato's operation does not turn into an occupation.

"Nato should only enter Libya to determine that Libya belongs to Libyans and not to distribute its natural resources and richness to others," Mr Erdogan said.

Diplomats said Turkey, a Nato member that sees itself as a bridge between Europe and the Muslim world, was angered by its exclusion from an emergency summit on Saturday in Paris organised by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, at which the 22 participants agreed to launch armed action against Gaddafi's military.

France ended up making the first strikes, and the diplomats said Turkey's envoys had warned that Nato's participation in the airstrikes could damage the alliance's standing in the Islamic world at a time when it is heavily engaged in the war in Afghanistan.

Nato's participation in any military action against Libya would require the approval of all 28 Nato members, but a Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman denied it was grounding Nato.

"Turkey is not blocking Nato, Turkey has been contributing to the preparations with a positive approach since the beginning," he said.

The Nato diplomats said the North Atlantic Council, Nato's top decision-making body, would again discuss the no-fly plan when envoys meet in Brussels.

Even if such an order is adopted, it will require several more days before aircraft under Nato command start flying missions over Libya.

The order also is likely to restrict Nato's air forces to making sure there are no unauthorised flights over Libya, with no mention of attacks on ground targets.

The United States, France and Britain initiated attacks on Libya on Saturday, raining cruise missiles and precision bombs on Libyan military targets on the ground, including Gaddafi's residential compound.

Other members of Nato have expressed concerns over whether Nato aircraft and other equipment would have to be diverted from other missions, including the one in Afghanistan, and controversy was still lingering over whether the head of the Arab League was been misquoted as criticising the operation.

Support from the Arab League was critical to obtaining UN approval for international action to protect Libyan civilians.

But after the international operation began, the league chief Amr Moussa was quoted as telling reporters in Cairo that it should not have included attacks on Libyan targets on the ground.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said that Mr Moussa had been misquoted, but German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle offered the comments as evidence that Germany's decision not to participate in the operation was justified.

"This does not mean that we are neutral," Mr Westerwelle said. "This does not mean that we have any sympathy with the dictator Gaddafi. It means that we see the risks, and when we listen closely to what the Arab League yesterday said."

He said Germany would focus on broadening economic and financial sanctions against the Gaddafi regime.

Turkey has vast business interests in Libya, most notably in the construction sector, and had relatively friendly ties with Gaddafi. More than 30,000 Turks were working in Libya before the uprising against Gaddafi began last month.