PARIS (AP) – President Nicolas Sarkozy says France will intensify its airstrikes in Libya at the request of opposition forces.
France’s Foreign Ministry also said Wednesday it already has military liaison officers on the ground in the rebel-held city of Benghazi. The officers are trying to help the rebels organize and bolster the NATO air campaign that has failed to rout Moammar Gadhafi’s military.
A presidential aide said Sarkozy, after meeting a Libyan opposition leader Wednesday, said: “We will intensify the strikes.” The aide was not authorized to be publicly named according to presidential policy.
ROME (AP) – Italy has announced it is sending military instructors to train the rebels fighting in Libya.
Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa said 10 instructors will be going. Details are being worked out. He spoke Wednesday after meeting with his British counterpart, Liam Fox.
France and Britain already have announced they will be sending military officers to Libya to help rebel forces organize and bolster the NATO air campaign that has failed to rout Moammar Gadhafi’s military.
La Russa again ruled out that Italy would send ground troops.
2011-04-20
