Italy ready for ‘targeted action’ in Libya – Berlusconi

Italy is ready to allow its air force to take “targeted action” against selected military objectives in Libya, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said yesterday.

In a telephone conversation, he had informed US President Barack Obama “that Italy has decided to respond positively” to an appeal by the head of the Nato military alliance, Mr Berlusconi said in a statement.

“Italy has decided to augment the operational flexibility of its planes through targeted actions against specific military objectives on Libyan territory in the context of contributing to protecting the Libyan civilian population,” he said.

In this way, “Italy remains within the limits set by the (Nato) mandate for the operation and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council”.

Military action, sanctioned by the UN, was first launched by Britain, France and the United States on March 19, but Nato later took over the operation.

Italy, like France and Britain, last week agreed to send military advisers to assist Libya’s Benghazi-based rebel Transitional National Council (TNC) in its battle against Col Gaddafi’s better-armed and better-trained forces.

Italy, Libya’s former colonial ruler, has ruled out ground operations and said it would like to see Col Gaddafi and his family cede power voluntarily to pave the way for a political solution to the conflict.

Col Gaddafi’s regime is accusing the United States, which launched its first Predator drone strikes over the weekend, of crimes against humanity.

Drone strikes have so far hit a rocket launcher targeting Misurata and an SA-8 surface-to-air missile in Tripoli, according to Nato officials.