Italy and France said today they will send military trainers to aid the rebels in Libya.

"There is a clear understanding that the rebels have to be trained," Italian Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa told reporters after meeting his British counterpart Liam Fox in Rome, following similar announcements by Britain and France.

"Italy is ready to send the same number of military staff as Britain to be instructors in Libya. We are talking about 10 at the moment," La Russa said.

Libya was an Italian colony from 1911 until World War II and has retained close ties with the North African state. Italian energy major ENI is the top foreign oil producer in Libya and Italy is Libya's top trade partner.

Italy had major defence and construction contracts with the regime, many of which have now been suspended. Muammar Gaddafi was also a frequent visitor to Rome where he enjoyed friendly ties with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Gaddafi expelled many Italian firms and thousands of expatriates when he came to power in 1969 and often uses anti-colonial rhetoric in his speeches but signed a friendship treaty with Italy in 2008 that healed diplomatic ties.

France earlier  said it had already sent military advisers to Libya's rebel Transitional National Council (TNC). Britain yesterday said it would send advisers to help organise the stalled rebellion.