US agrees to NATO request to extend Libya strikes

WASHINGTON – The United States has agreed to a NATO request to conduct air strikes on Libya through Monday because of “recent poor weather,” the Pentagon said Sunday.

“Due to recent poor weather in Libya, the US has approved NATO’s request to extend use of some US strike (aircraft)” through Monday, the Pentagon said in a message posted on the microblogging site Twitter.

The US military had planned to begin withdrawing its combat jets and Tomahawk missiles from the air campaign against Libya’s regime this weekend, as NATO allies were to take the lead in bombing Moammar Gadhafi’s forces.

NATO took charge of the coalition effort on Thursday. Last week, US sorties aimed at striking targets in Libya had also been scaled back.