Italy will not order air strikes in Libya-minister
Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:58 GMT
ROME, April 15 (Reuters) - Italy will not order its aircraft taking part in military operations over Libya to open fire, despite pressure from Britain and France, Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa said on Friday.
Rome has made several air bases available for NATO forces and has contributed eight aircraft to the Libya mission but only for reconnaissance and monitoring operations.
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting in Rome, La Russa said: "The current line being followed by Italy is the right one and we are not thinking about changing our contribution to the military operations in Libya."
Britain and France, the driving powers behind the western-led operation, have called for NATO allies to step up their contributions to the air operations against forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. [ID:nLDE73D1WN]
Italy, the former colonial power in Libya, was one of Gaddafi's best friends in Europe until his violent suppression of an uprising prompted the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution authorising force to protect civilian lives.
An official, who declined to be named, said Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi remained opposed to opening fire, saying Italy was contributing enough and its colonial past in Libya meant it should not change its position. (Reporting by Francesca Piscioneri; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
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