Spain to pull troops out of Libya by end of October

Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon said on Tuesday that all of Spain's troops on the Libyan mission would return home by the end of October. The decision came a week after four Spanish F-18 fighter planes arrived home, accomplishing their combat mission as part of the NATO operation. The fighters were based in Italy along with two tanker planes, which will be back to Spain before the start of next week together with 60 airforce personnel. They will be joined by the 235 crew aboard the frigate "Alvaro de Bazan" which has been on duty off the Libyan coast. Spain has also had a submarine on permanent duty off the coast which will return home soon. Chacon confirmed that the objectives of the military operation had been fulfilled and that Spain had played a "relevant, exemplary and determining role." The minister said that the Spanish tanker planes have carried out 250 missions, with a total of 700 flight hours. Spain spent an average of 14.4 million euros (20 million U.S. dollars) a month in the seven-month mission. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen last Friday said the military alliance's Libya mission is very close to completion, and that it has taken a preliminary decision to end it on October 31.