NATO has finally drawn up a plan to build the command structure of military operations in Libya, conveniently at a Italian base, the diplomat said Thursday as it is proposed to overcome the impasse in the country of acquisition.

Day to day operational command will be located at the NATO base in Naples, with sub-orders for naval operations in the same location and fly zone in Poggio Renatico in northern Italy, said the diplomat.

Strategic headquarters of NATO, Supreme Headquarters Allied Power Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, would oversee the general operation, the source said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

The mission of the air would be monitored in Izmir, Turkey, but the daily tactical operations in a series of short Renatico Poggio, the diplomat said. Turkey has blocked a new effort Wednesday night to give NATO a role in the no-fly zone because it requires an end to the bombing campaign led by a coalition led by the United States, Britain and France.

The diplomat said a compromise is emerging between NATO allies that would allow strikes against countries withdraw from these operations, while those who wish may continue attacks.

The United States has been the de facto leader of operations in Libya, which began Saturday, but U.S. officials said they wanted to hand over responsibility to someone else in a few days.

Many NATO countries do not want the alliance to take command of the campaign, but France is seeking leave to do political control in the hands of the coalition, when NATO would run the daily operations. NATO ambassadors were to meet again until the end the impasse.

AP adds: The international military operation against the forces of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi can last for days or weeks – not months, Foreign Minister of France said on Thursday.

Alain Juppe also said he hoped the campaign in Libya sends warning to autocratic regimes in other places, including Syria and Saudi Arabia.

"I sometimes say that the dictator task is now employed at high risk," said JUPPÉ, noting that some autocrats – and now Gaddafi – was covered by the ICC.

"Hopefully it will all serve as examples," he said.

Juppe spoke to reporters before meeting with the EU and NATO should discuss how to coordinate the campaign of air strikes against Libya, which until now have primarily involved U.S. forces, British and French.

Although JUPPÉ predicted that the campaign would perhaps take several days or weeks, months, others disagreed.

Former Russian Ambassador to Libya said Gadhafi could hold the coalition forces for months and still enjoys wide popular support, and will not resign.

Vladimir Chamov, who was released from his duties last weekend, President Dmitry Medvedev said on arrival in Moscow late Wednesday that the hostilities may change in the Libyan oasis of instability such as Iraq or Somalia.

The confusion over who is responsible for the international operation has contributed to diplomatic tensions.

Western warplanes struck a fifth Libya on Thursday night, but so far have failed to stop the bombing of Muammar Gaddafi tanks in rebel-held city, or to remove his armor, a strategic crossroads for east.

Gaddafi reinvested in Misrata tanks under cover of darkness and began shelling the area near the main hospitals, residents and rebels said, to resume their attacks after their guns were silent during the day with strikes Air West.

A loud explosion was heard in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Thursday morning and smoke could be seen rising from an area where a military base.

Libyan officials took journalists to a hospital in Tripoli on Thursday morning to see what they have said the charred bodies of 18 soldiers and civilians killed by Western aviation and missiles overnight.

The U.S. military said it had managed to establish a no-fly zone in coastal areas of Libya and continued to attack the spirit of Gaddafi. The Allies flew 175 raids in 24 hours, with the American flight 113 of them, a U.S. commander said.

Britain said on Thursday it had launched Tomahawk guided missiles from a Trafalgar class submarine in the air defense targets in the coalition’s plan to enforce the resolution.

French Defense Minister Gerard Longue said France has destroyed about 10 armored vehicles Libya for more than three days.