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| PM calls for more details over Libya Apache deployment | PM calls for more details over Libya Apache deployment |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The prime minister has asked for more information before agreeing to deploy Apache attack helicopters in Libya. | The prime minister has asked for more information before agreeing to deploy Apache attack helicopters in Libya. |
| David Cameron's request follows a meeting of the National Security Council in Downing Street on Thursday. | David Cameron's request follows a meeting of the National Security Council in Downing Street on Thursday. |
| Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards said, if agreed, the Apaches would be part of "ratcheting up" the pressure on Colonel Gaddafi. | Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards said, if agreed, the Apaches would be part of "ratcheting up" the pressure on Colonel Gaddafi. |
| The BBC's Nick Robinson understands the prime minister is considering military assessments of the risks involved. | The BBC's Nick Robinson understands the prime minister is considering military assessments of the risks involved. |
| It is two months since UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised air strikes to protect Libyan civilians. | |
| The UN vote followed the violent suppression of protests against Col Gaddafi's regime. | |
| Military strikes against Col Gaddafi's forces in support of the rebels began on 19 March. | |
| The military is assessing the risk of deploying helicopters, which make easier targets than high-flying jets, in a country which has thousands of surface-to-air missiles. | The military is assessing the risk of deploying helicopters, which make easier targets than high-flying jets, in a country which has thousands of surface-to-air missiles. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said: "The helicopters and their pilots are currently on exercise in the Mediterranean. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said: "The helicopters and their pilots are currently on exercise in the Mediterranean. |
| "Their military value is that they will allow swifter attacks on smaller targets in urban areas than are currently possible using jets alone." | "Their military value is that they will allow swifter attacks on smaller targets in urban areas than are currently possible using jets alone." |
| The French government has already said that it will be deploying French Tiger attack helicopters. | The French government has already said that it will be deploying French Tiger attack helicopters. |
| Mr Cameron made the request for more information while he was en route to the G8 Summit in France. | Mr Cameron made the request for more information while he was en route to the G8 Summit in France. |