NATO members begin talks in Brussels to discuss the alliance’s options to the conflict in Libya.

All members are agreed they want to see a demonstrable need to act before doing so. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen:“We are not looking to intervene in Libya, but we do the necessary planning to be prepared for all eventualities if requested.”

Enforcing a no-fly zone requires knocking out Libya’s air defences, that amounts to military intervention – not to be considered lightly. France prefers the United Nations route to sanction a no fly zone rather than emphasising NATO’s involvement which it says has an aggressive reputation among Arab nations in the region.