Ambassadors from NATO's 28-member states, including Canada, have unanimously decided to extend the military campaign in Libya for an additional 90 days.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the alliance's secretary-general made the announcement on Wednesday, saying it "sends a clear message to the Gadhafi regime: We are determined to continue our operation to protect the people of Libya."
NATO took command of the international military campaign in Libya at the end of March, in the hopes of protecting Libyan civilians caught up in fighting between rebels and forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
The alliance originally agreed to head the military campaign for 90 days, which would expire June 27.
Fogh Rasmussen said that extending the campaign also carried a message for Libyan civilians.
"NATO, our partners, the whole international community, stand with you," he said. "We stand united to make sure that you can shape your own future. And that day is getting closer."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has suggested that he would seek parliamentary approval to extend Canada's role in the NATO-led mission. On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said he had been consulting with opposition MPs to come to a consensus regarding Canada's position on the Libyan conflict.
The Liberals would like to see Parliament pass a resolution on the matter before the government makes a decision on whether to join the extended NATO mission, said party interim leader Bob Rae.
On CTV's Power Play, NDP Defence Critic Jack Harris said his party would like to see Canada's role in the NATO mission restricted to civilian protection, rather than engaging in military action designed to weaken Gadhafi's position.
"There's a lot of wild talk out there about mission creep, including regime change or getting Gadhafi," Harris said.
"As far as we're concerned, that's not the resolution," that Parliament passed on March 21 authorizing Canada's participation in the Libya mission, he said.
The decision to extend the timeline for the mission was made in Brussels during a meeting of ambassadors from NATO's 28 member states, and five other countries who are participating in the mission -- Jordan, Qatar, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco -- said the alliance's deputy spokesperson, Carmen Romero.
The alliance makes decisions unanimously among its 28 members. Its operations in Libya have focused primarily on enforcing a no-fly zone and using air assaults to protect civilians.
Gadhafi has been trying to endure the international military campaign, which also includes an arms embargo, while waging war against rebel fighters seeking his ouster.
While fighting has continued, with an end seemingly out of sight, Gadhafi's regime has suffered a number of diplomatic losses. On Wednesday, Libyan oil minister Shukri Ghanem appeared in Rome and confirmed that he had joined the growing list of senior officials who have defected.
"In this situation, which is unbearable, one cannot continue working," Ghanem said to reporters, adding that he supported the "Libyan youth" who are fighting to create a constitutional democracy in his country.
NATO maintains that regime change is not among the mission's goals.
In Ottawa, officials at the Department of Defence held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to outline Canada's contribution to the NATO-led mission, which includes flying around 10 per cent of the coalition's offensive air strikes and dropping about 270 laser-guided bombs over the North African country.
"The Canadian Forces are and will continue to be ready to implement the intent of the Canadian government," Canadian Forces spokesperson Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette told reporters.
Craig Skjerpen, the commanding officer on HMCS Charlottetown, which has been deployed off the Libyan coast near the rebel-held city of Misrata, spoke at the news conference via Internet connection. He said that NATO's efforts have helped rebels in Misrata push back Gadhafi forces beyond the range of artillery fire, decreasing the danger posed to civilians in the war-torn city.
But Gadhafi forces have continued to threaten Misrata's port by sea, he said, including by deploying anti-ship mines and raiding small boats.
With files from The Associated Press
