NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday that he was in favor of providing financial support to rebel fighters in Libya to help force Muammar Gaddafi to leave.

"I am definitely in favor of taking all necessary measures to put maximum pressure on the Gaddafi regime...I do believe that will be protection of civilians if Gaddafi was forced to step down," Rasmussen told a news conference.

"In this respect, I think it will be helpful to make sure the opposition can be financed properly. I would expect such financial mechanisms to be discussed in Rome," Rasmussen said.

` In addition, Rasmussen denied that the alliances military operation was facing a stalemate in Libya.

"The nature of the conflict has changed significantly in a month...We are making progress every day, every week," he said.