NATO decision body meets to consider air strikes

NATO's top decision-making body meets Sunday to expand its its enforcement of the no-fly zone to include air strikes against Libyan ground targets.

After nearly a week of deliberations, the North Atlantic Council agreed on Friday that the alliance should take on the no-fly zone in accordance with the U.N. Security Council's mandate. But the air strikes intended to protect civilians from Gadhafi's forces were temporarily left to the U.S.-led international force.

Washington has been eager to hand off responsibility to NATO, which is expected to take command Sunday of the no-fly zone mission.

A Canadian three-star general, Charles Bouchard, will take charge. He reports to an American admiral, Samuel Locklear, commander of NATO's Allied Joint Force Command Naples.