NATO: Libya strikes to continue as battle rages

Last Updated 9:50 a.m. ET

NATO said Tuesday the situation in the Libyan capital of Tripoli remains very dangerous and the alliance will continue its operations over the country, bombing forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi if they keep fighting.

But spokesman Col. Roland Lavoie told reporters Tuesday that pro-Qaddafi forces are severely degraded and losing strength through desertions and defections.

" Let there be no doubt we will continue to monitor military movement ... when we see any threatening moves toward the Libyan people, we will act, according to the U.N. mandate," Lavoie said at a news conference in Naples, Italy. He also took questions from reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels by video link.

"The U.N. mandate remains valid and in effect," Lavoie said.

When asked about the whereabouts of Muammar Qaddafi, Lavoie said, "Don't have a clue, but not sure it really matters. The resolution [to the crisis] will be political, and everybody realizes he will not be part of the solution."

Lavoie was asked, if NATO surveillance were to track Qaddafi fleeing from a location, would he be targeted? "We do not target individuals," he replied. "He is not a target for NATO.

"That said, we do target command and control facilities," he added. "They are legitimate targets and we will destroy [them]."

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In Brussels, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said NATO might play a role in Libya in the post-Qaddafi period.

"NATO is willing to help in a supporting role if needed and if requested," Lungescu said.

Lungescu also suggested Saif al-Islam Qaddafi's surprise appearance in Tripoli last night was less of a concern in terms of the Qaddafi government's staying power. "A brief appearance at the dead of night doesn't indicate to me somebody who is in control of a country, or capital, or of anything much at all really. The remnants of the regime are on the run."

Earlier, France's foreign minister had said he hoped NATO's air operation over Libya would end "as soon as possible" - once rebel fighters topple Qaddafi and his forces for good. Alain Juppe said France and Britain were responsible for about 75 to 80 percent of NATO air operations over Libya in recent months.

Turkey's foreign minister said air operations would continue until security in the country is fully restored.

Rebels and pro-regime troops were fighting street battles in several parts of Tripoli, a day after opposition fighters swept into the capital with relative ease.