NATO Ending Libyan Mission Monday

NATO will end its months long mission in Libya next week, the international coalition announced Friday.

In a statement, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the mission will end Monday, but that NATO will continue to have a presence in the country until then.

“We will continue to monitor the situation. And if needed, we will continue to respond to threats to civilians,” Rasmussen said.

The decision was made a via a formal vote among NATO members.

Rasmussen added that NATO is ready to help if the Libyan government requests support, noting that they face a multitude of challenges.

“They still have a lot of work to do – to build a new Libya, based on reconciliation, human rights and the rule of law,” Rasmussen said.

The Libyan mission, named Operation Unified Protector, began in late March. Authorized by the United Nations, the mission was aimed at protecting Libyan civilians from the Gaddafi regime’s attacks.