Bengasi, 25 Oct. (AKI) - The National Transitional Council of Libya would like Nato to extend its mission by 'a month, according to oil and finance minister Ali Tarhouni.

"I ask Nato to stay for at least another month," Tarhouni said during a Tuesday press conference in Bengasi.

Last week, US admiral James Stavridis, commander of NATO's military forces, recommended that the military alliance end its mission in Libya by 31 October. His recommendation was informally approved by Nato ministers.

US secretary of defence Leon Panetta during a trip to Japan on Tuesday raised the possibility that Nato will stay longer.

"I noticed today that there were comments from some of the Libya leadership asking that NATO continue its mission during this interim as they are trying to establish some of their governance," Panetta said.