Britain to provide fighters for strikes on Libya
16:13 18/03/2011 LONDON, March 18 (RIA Novosti) - The Royal Air Force will provide Tornado and Typhoon aircraft for possible air strikes against Libyan forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, British Prime Minister David Cameroon said on Friday.
The 15-nation UN Security Council voted to declare Libya a no-fly zone on Thursday to prevent Gaddafi ordering air strikes on rebel-held cities. Five nations, including veto-wielding China, Russia and Germany, abstained from the vote.
"Britain will deploy Tornadoes and Typhoons as well as air-refueling and surveillance aircraft. Preparations to deploy these aircraft have already started and in the coming hours they will move to air bases from where they can start to take the necessary action," Cameron told the House of Commons.
Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said his country preferred international economic sanctions against Libya to a military campaign.
"Any military operation will lead to civilian deaths," he said. "We will not send German soldiers to participate in the military operation against Libya."
On Friday morning, NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu said the alliance was ready for an international operation against Libya. Gaddafi reacted with a furious statement.
"If the world goes mad, we will strike back. We will resist, and we will turn their life into hell," he was quoted by Al Arabiya television as saying.
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