Turkey was apparently not the only obstacle. Diplomats said France was seeking political leadership of the mission, but this was opposed by a number of other nations, which wanted NATO firmly in charge. Another sticking point was just how aggressive the enforcement of the no-fly zone should be, as several nations strongly opposed continuing the air strikes on Libyan ground targets.

Italy warned Monday that it would review the use of its bases by coalition forces if NATO does not take over. The country lies just across the Mediterranean from Libya and is allowing the use of seven of its military bases.

"Italy will begin reflecting on the use of its bases," said Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, according to Italian news reports. "If there is a multiplication of command centers, we must study a way in which Italy retakes control of its bases."

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi insisted the mission should pass to NATO's command, and said Italian planes would not launch any missiles. Speaking in Turin, he said coordination among partners must be "different from the one that has been established so far."

British Prime Minister David Cameron, however, praised the performance of the informal coalition, saying its forces had neutralized Libyan air defenses and helped avert a bloodbath.

Related: 58 percent say Britain is wrong to intervene

The prime minister told British lawmakers that Gadhafi had violated a UN Security Council resolution by moving troops toward rebel-held cities and also had lied to the international community.

"Gadhafi responded to the UN resolution by declaring a cease-fire, but straightaway it was clear he was breaking that promise," Cameron said.

Cameron stressed that through airstrikes, coalition forces helped avert what could have been "a bloody massacre in Benghazi."

The aims behind coalition airstrikes - which Cameron called "necessary, legal and right" - were to suppress Libyan air defenses to enable the enforcement of a no-fly zone and to protect civilians.

"Good progress has been made on both fronts," Cameron said.

Calling intervention in Libya a "coalition of the willing," Cameron said Britain wants "to internationalize this to the maximum degree possible" and outlined commitments from other nations.

While no Arab planes have flown in the mission, Cameron said the Qataris are providing a number of jets to help enforce the no-fly zone and the UK is doing everything it can to encourage other Arab nations to come forward.

Cameron declined to say whether Gadhafi was himself a potential target of the airstrikes.

Support from the Arab League was critical to obtaining UN approval for international action to protect Libyan civilians. But after the international operation began, the league chief Amr Moussa was quoted as telling reporters in Cairo that it should not have included attacks on Libyan targets on the ground.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Monday that Moussa had been misquoted, but German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle offered the comments as evidence that Germany's decision not to participate in the operation was justified.

"This does not mean that we are neutral," Westerwelle said. "It means that we see the risks, and when we listen closely to what the Arab League yesterday said."

Westerwelle said Germany would focus on broadening economic and financial sanctions against the Gadhafi government.

On Monday, the EU extended its travel ban and the freeze on assets to another 11 Libyan officials and its assets freeze to a further nine Libyan companies. It did not name the people or the companies involved.

And in France, diplomats were hosting members of Libya's opposition for talks in Paris. Foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero noted France has had regular contacts with Libya's transitional national council - a top opposition group.

Analysts said Turkey does not completely oppose military action, but wants to promote its role as a broker for peace in Libya.

"Turkey with its Muslim identity is emerging as a peace-builder and prefers reducing of the presence of foreigners and its policies might differ from those of Europe or the United States," said Ilter Turan, a professor of political science at Istanbul's Bilgi University.