Turkey to serve as the US' "protecting power" in Libya

Turkey will serve as a "protecting power" for the United States in Libya, senior State Department officials told CNN yesterday. As a protecting power, Turkey will represent the US in Libya, including acting as consular officers on behalf of US citizens in Libya and looking after American diplomatic facilities in the country. Turkey can also pass messages between Washington and Tripoli, as what little communication remains between the two countries is likely to come to a grinding halt now that the US is bombing Libyan targets as part of enforcement of a no-fly zone. Officials said Libya has not yet identified a protecting power for its interests in the US.