Italy holds talks on Libya after UN resolution

Italy's government is to hold emergency talks on Libya today after the UN Security Council cleared the way for air strikes by approving "all necessary measures" to impose a no-fly zone on Libya.

The meeting in Rome of Italy's top defence and security chiefs hosted by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi are expected to examine "Italy's contribution in the implementation of the no-fly zone," a government source said.

The talks were set to start at 1100 GMT.

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa will then address a joint meeting of the foreign and defence committees of the two chambers of parliament at 1300 GMT, the source said.

Italy, Libya's former colonial ruler and top trade partner, has been cautious during the uprising in Libya but has said it will allow its air bases to be used to enforce a no-fly zone if such a decision was approved at the UN.

TM News agency said the bases of Trapani Birgi in Sicily and Gioia del Colle in the southern region of Apulia could be made available for the operation.

Italy and Libya are bound by a friendship treaty signed in 2008 that officially forbids the use of air bases in Italy to bomb Libya but Frattini earlier declared the document was "de facto suspended."

The use of air bases in Italy and of Italian air space is seen as crucial for the enforcement of any no-fly zone over Libya because of its location.