NATO will support Libya action after US: France

France's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that NATO would provide support to military intervention by the Western-led coalition in Libya when the United States scaled back its partcipation.         

"When the Americans decide to take a bit of a step back, NATO could come in to support, that seems fairly clear," said foreign ministry spokesperson Christine Fages. 

A heated meeting of NATO ambassadors on Monday failed to agree on whether the 28-nation alliance should run the operation to enforce a UN-mandated no-fly zone.                                           

Fages reiterated France’s concern that Arab members of the coalition were opposed to NATO taking sole command of the operation.               

Foreign Minister Alain Juppe suggested on Monday that NATO could take leadership at a planning and coordination level, but political leadership of the mission would need to come from coalition partners

Fages said, however, that the issue of who should run the alliance was not pressing for the time being, as Washington''s leadership was working.