Italy to participate in NATO-led airstrikes on Libya

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has approved the use of his country's air force in NATO's Libya mission. Italy was ready to allow its jets to take "targeted military action", he said in a statement. Berlusconi announced the decision after a telephone call with US President Barack Obama, and would also call other European leaders to brief them personally, said his statement. Italy had previously said it would not take part in NATO-led air strikes, citing its 40-year colonial rule of Libya. Berlusconi has signalled a major shift in policy, saying that Italy would take action against what he called specific military objectives in order to help protect the civilian Libyan population.