NATO is considering naming a point of contact in Libya's rebel-held city of Benghazi to improve political links with the rebel leadership there, a NATO spokeswoman said.

The idea would be to develop initial contacts between the alliance and the rebels' Benghazi-based interim national council made at an international meeting on Libya in Doha this month, Carmen Romero said when asked about the plan.

"In order to improve and enhance political contacts with the INC (interim national council), NATO is considering whether to have a civilian contact point in Benghazi in support of Operation Unified Protector," she said in reference to the NATO military operation in Libya.

"It would be to have informal political exchanges with the INC," she said.

A NATO source said that if NATO's 28 members agreed on the plan, the contact point was likely to be a diplomat from a NATO state which already has representation in Benghazi.

NATO has been conducting a campaign of air strikes against forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

NATO is also enforcing a no-fly zone and arms embargo.

Qatar and NATO states France and Italy have recognised the rebels controlling the east of the country and Britain, France and Italy announced plans last week to send small teams of military liaison officers to help the Libyan rebels with organisation and logistics.

Reuters