This week marked the three-month anniversary since the start of NATO’s military operations in Libya, but there was little sign of a breakthrough.

Earlier this month, NATO acknowledged accidently killing several civilians during a bombing raid in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. NATO admitted in a statement that the civilians were killed when allied warplanes failed to hit a Libyan missile site.

The casualties have prompted accusations that NATO has overstepped its United Nations mandate. Even within the Alliance, some have voiced concern about where the campaign is heading.

High stakes

Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini told reporters last week that NATO's reputation was on the line.

"NATO's credibility is at stake. It cannot run the risk of harming civilians. This is utterly unacceptable," Frattini said.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has stressed that the Gadhafi regime is systematically attacking its own people.

"This is the reason why the United Nation requested the international community to take action," Rasmussen said.

Uneasy feelings

On Monday, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Gadhafi, accusing him of crimes against humanity.

Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund in Washington said that the court's decision could prolong NATO's involvement.

"I do think the decision by the court in The Hague raises the stakes. It would make it much more difficult for the Gadhafi regime to accept graceful exit," said Lesser.

A pricy problem

Adding to NATO's woes, key allies Britain and France are warning about the cost of the airstrikes, running at around 1 million euros ($143 million) per day. Others, like Canada, are considering pulling out in the autumn.

But NATO's Secretary General insists everyone is committed.

"Yes, it is a costly operation but it would be far more costly to let a dictator like Gadhafi succeed in his crackdown on the democratic movement in Libya," he said. "This is not just about financial cost, this is also about basic democratic values, human rights, the rule of law. And these values are priceless."

NATO's current mandate runs out at the end of September. And if there's no breakthrough by then, it could be forced to reconsider its mission in Libya.

Author: Vanessa Mock, Brussels / smh
Editor: Michael Lawton