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PM calls for more details over Libya Apache deployment Libya Apache deployment approved by David Cameron
(about 2 hours later)
The prime minister has asked for more information before agreeing to deploy Apache attack helicopters in Libya. The UK is sending four Apache attack helicopters to the mission in Libya, after approval by the prime minister.
David Cameron's request follows a meeting of the National Security Council in Downing Street on Thursday. They will allow for swifter attacks on smaller targets in urban areas.
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. There had been speculation about the move after France said it would be deploying French Tiger helicopters.
The BBC's Nick Robinson understands the prime minister is considering military assessments of the risks involved. The final decision on the deployment rested with David Cameron, who had requested more information about possible risks while he was en route to the G8 Summit in France.
It is two months since UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised air strikes to protect Libyan civilians. The helicopters and their pilots are normally based at the Army's Wattisham airfield, in Suffolk, but are currently on exercise in the Mediterranean.
The UN vote followed the violent suppression of protests against Col Gaddafi's regime. Their deployment means there will be less chance of civilian casualties in operations that are relying on the use of jets alone, said the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson.
Military strikes against Col Gaddafi's forces in support of the rebels began on 19 March. But he added that the risk was that the Apaches could be targeted themselves as Libyan forces loyal to Col Gaddafi have access to 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. Their deployment was discussed at a meeting of the UK's National Security Council at Downing Street earlier in the day.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said: "The helicopters and their pilots are currently on exercise in the Mediterranean. Mr Cameron has talked about "turning up the pressure" on Col Gaddafi but the Apache helicopters are expected to go into operation "within days" rather than overnight.
"Their military value is that they will allow swifter attacks on smaller targets in urban areas than are currently possible using jets alone." It is two months since UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised air strikes to protect Libyan civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col Gaddafi.
The French government has already said that it will be deploying French Tiger attack helicopters. The UN vote followed the violent suppression of protests against Col Gaddafi's regime and military strikes against Col Gaddafi's forces in support of the rebels began on 19 March.
Mr Cameron made the request for more information while he was en route to the G8 Summit in France.