Nato ships begin patrols off Libya

Six NATO warships backed up by aircraft began to patrol international waters off Libya's coast today to enforce a UN arms embargo against Muammar Gaddafi's regime, the alliance said.

"NATO warships and aircraft have started patrolling the approaches to Libya's coast as part of Operation Unified Protector," NATO said on its website.

The ships were already in international waters off Libya's coast while patrol aircraft and fighter jets were heading to the area "to provide long-range surveillance and intercept any suspected flights carrying weapons into Libya," it said.

"The ships will remain in international waters and will not enter Libyan territorial waters," NATO said.

Alliance General Pierre St-Amand of Canada said earlier that six NATO nations have pledged 16 vessels for the operation, including three submarines.

NATO allies agreed to launch the operation late yesterday.