"The Obama administration will transfer the lead role in enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but the deal exposed sharp divisions in NATO and means U.S. warplanes will continue flying combat missions against Libyan ground forces, officials said.

"U.S. and NATO officials said the Brussels-based alliance had agreed to take command of the no-fly zone in coming days to prevent Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi's air force from attacking rebels who have been battling his government for five weeks.

"But after four days of wrangling, NATO ambassadors could not agree on whether to also put the alliance in charge of airstrikes targeting Kadafi's tanks and other ground forces to prevent them from seizing cities held by rebel forces. Warplanes from the U.S. and coalition allies, including France and Britain, will continue those attacks."

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