The NATO has agreed to take command of enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya from the US. But Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen made clear that other aspects of the operation will remain in the hands of the current coalition for now. The handover of the command could come as early as this weekend. The NATO has been locked in dispute about whether to take charge of the mission to enforce a UN resolution.

Meanwhile, Coalition air raids on Libya continued for the sixth day on Thursday. US and allied forces have shifted focus on hitting Libyan ground forces, targeting tanks and artillery to obliterate Muammar Gaddafi’s war waging machine.

The shift to attack the ground forces came after coalition commanders claimed that Libyan air force has been completely destroyed and that the US and NATO warplanes have total sway of the Libyan sky.

The coalition warplanes pounded the rebel-held city of Misruta, forcing Gaddafi’s forces to pull back from the outskirts of the city. Similar strikes were aimed at Gaddafi’s forces stalking the towns of Adjabiyah and Zintan.

The allied forces also continued Tomahawk missile strikes and air bombing of the Libyan capital Tripoli. The city was rocked by seven explosions and witnesses said a military base at Tajura, 32 kms east of the capital was hit. The official JANA news agency said coalition raids on Tajura had killed a large number of civilians.

Heavy shelling by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi was reported in the rebel-held Misurata and fierce fighting with opponents in strategic Ajdabiya. Residents fled the towns to escape shelling and gunfire. Rebels claimed that several houses were on fire after the shelling. Gaddafi’s forces also resorted to sniper firing to dislodge the rebels.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says there is no evidence to support Libyan assertions that it is complying with a cease-fire. In a briefing to the UN Security Council last night, Mr Ban said, he continues to have serious concerns about the protection of civilians, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.