(CNN) -- NATO will begin to scale back operations in Libya following Moammar Gadhafi's death, with the preliminary end date of October 31, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Friday. A formal decision on a definitive end date will be made early next week. "We did what we said we would do and now is the time for the Libyan people to take their destiny into their own hands," Rasmussen said after meeting with officials in Brussels to determine what should happen next. NATO forces will be on standby until the end of the month to continue to provide assistance to civilians if needed, he said, adding that, if requested by the new Libyan leadership, the international body could also help in the transition with regards to reforms to the country's defense and security sectors.
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"We did what we said we would do," NATO chief says
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A decision on a definitive end date will be made next week
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NATO confirms a strike by its aircraft likely contributed to Gadhafi's capture
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Officials: Coalition forces' seven-month mission is drawing to an end
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Since March 31, some 9,634 strike sorties, where targets are identified or hit, are among 26,000 sorties to have been conducted, @placeholder said Friday.
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Criticizing the reluctance of some of the alliance's 28 members to spend money on defense, he said the @placeholder operation had made it "painfully clear" that shortcomings could "jeopardize the alliance's ability to conduct an integrated, effective and sustained air-sea campaign."
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More analysis of @placeholder's performance is bound to come up as the smoke clears.
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NATO may also be called to help @placeholder's fledgling government and disparate militias achieve an orderly transition.
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"Whether that is something @placeholder can help them with, or whether we can help them with, or whether other countries can help them with, we'll figure that out in the days ahead."
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NATO could help the new civilian government in such areas as civilian control of the military, professionalization of security forces and border security, he said, although it might take time before the interim government was in a position to make requests of @placeholder.