Italy will take part in NATO bombing raids over Libya

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Italy will take part in NATO bombing raids over Libya

The Associated Press Published Monday, April 25, 2011 4:57PM EDT

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi arrives for his meeting with the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Kerry, D-Mass., in Rome, Friday, April 22, 2011. (AP / Andrew Medichini)

Text:

ROME - Italy will take part in strategic bombing raids in NATO's Libya mission, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Monday, following a phone call with United States President Barack Obama.

Berlusconi's office said in a statement that Italy had decided to beef up its military action in Libya to better contribute to protecting civilians.

Italy had previously said it would not participate in airstrikes against Libyan targets, given its 40-year colonial rule over the country, but in Monday's statement it said it had decided to increase its "operational flexibility."

The statement stressed that Italian airstrikes would only be against "specific military objectives."

Berlusconi will discuss Italy's decision with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Rome on Tuesday, the statement said.

Italian aircraft and navy ships had previously only been involved in Nato's Libya mission for refuelling and other operations.

Rebels have complained that NATO-led firepower hasn't been sufficient to help them advance against Moammar Gadhafi's forces.