Erdogan rules out possibility of NATO intervention in Libya

As world powers began discussing a possible no-fly zone over turmoil-stricken Libya, and possible military intervention, following a weekend UN Security Council decision to impose sanctions, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said, "Reporters have been asking me whether or not NATO should intervene in Libya. This is such nonsense. What does NATO have to do with Libya? NATO's intervention in Libya is out of the question. We're opposed to such a thing." Clashes between security forces and protesters seeking the ouster of longtime leader Moammar Gaddafi have left hundreds dead in the North Africa country. Addressing the Turkish-German Economy Congress in Hanover, Erdogan criticized the international community, without naming any country. "We're not among those who see oil whenever they look at the Middle East," he said. "We're not among those who see ill-gotten gains whenever we look at the Balkans. We're not among those who look at the Caucasus, Asia and Africa with an eye for our own interests." Later in Geneva, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and they spoke about Libya and Iran, as well as Bahrain, Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen, but Clinton reportedly said nothing about possible US intervention in Libya. The North Atlantic Council declared Friday that the alliance would not intervene in the Libyan crisis, but will continue to monitor the situation closely in coordination with other international organizations.