Photo Gallery NATO's Libya Conundrum
NATO air strikes in Libya have been ongoing for weeks now. Forces loyal to Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi have been stalled in their attempts to wipe out the pro-democracy rebellion. But the rebels have been unable to make advances and a stalemate would seem to have ensued.
Pro-Gadhafi loyalists during a demonstration in the town of Misrata last week. Many in the West are now concerned that Libya could ultimately be partitioned and become dangerously unstable.
Rebels in Libya have accused NATO in recent days of not flying enough missions against pro-Gadhafi forces in recent days. At the same time, several rebels have been killed recently by NATO air strikes. Here, thousands of mourners gather in the coastal city of Benghazi after a NATO strike resulted in rebel deaths.
There have been reports recently that Gadhafi is willing to lay down arms. But rebels do not believe the offer. They say a prerequisite for any talks with pro-Gadhafi forces is that Gadhafi himself step down.
The US has ceased flying missions in Libya and the French and British continue to take the lead in the effort. Here, a French Mirage 2000 approaches an airborne refuelling tanker.
