NATO may continue Libya bombing during Ramadan

Dr Sanjay Kumar Cardiac Cardiothoracic Heart Surgeon India

Brussels: NATO says its warplanes may continue bombing Libya during Ramadan if Moammar Gaddafi's forces attack rebel-held areas during the holy month.

NATO spokesman Wing Commander Mike Bracken said on Tuesday the alliance would wait and see whether pro-Gaddafi units cease their operations during Ramadan, which starts around August 1. If they don't "then I think it would be highly appropriate to continue to use the mandate that NATO has to protect those lives," he said.

The Western alliance is operating under a U.N. mandate that allows the use of force to protect civilians.

NATO is worried that bombing a Muslim nation during the month-long period of prayer, reflection and sunrise-to-sunset fasts could provoke a public backlash in the Islamic world.