Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Francois Fillion again ruled out an option of sending ground troops to Libya.

"It's not a war against Libya. It's an operation of civil protection as it consisted in protecting Libyans by openly excluding sending forces to occupy the ground," the premier told deputies in the National Assembly.

"The use of force was the result of a series of diplomatic actions aimed at stemming Gaddafi violence. We have always been clear that the intervention's objective is to protect civilians," Fillion stressed.

Critics said the military intervention in Libya started by France is on paper a move to protect civilians but in reality an attempt to let foreign powers put their hands on the country's strategic oil sites.

The UN Security Council passed last week the Resolution 1973 backing to impose a no-fly zone on Libya and "all necessary measures" to protect civilians, but gave no leeway for foreign ground troops to enter into Libya.

Also on Tuesday, Spain sent five aircraft including four F-18's and a Boeing 707 tanker to participated in the military operation in Libya; while its frigate Mendez Nunez and the submarine Tramontana are waiting for the authorization to join the naval blockade to enforce the arms embargo on the troubled North African nation.

Despite others' enthusiasm, Germany, which said earlier that it would not join the military actions against Libya, on Tuesday pulled out of NATO operations in the Mediterranean.

Local reports said Germany has regained the command of two frigates and two other ships with a total of 550 crew in that area, and some 60 to 70 German troops who have joined in NATO airborne surveillance operations in the Mediterranean might also be included in this withdrawal action.

Germany abstained in last week's Security Council vote of Resolution 1973.