Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Monday that Italy was ready "to intensify its military action" in Libya by taking part in the NATO air raids against Muammar Gaddafi's military sites.
In a phone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama, Berlusconi said Italy "had decided to positively reply to the requests by NATO to boost the efficiency of its military participation in the Libyan mission," according to a statement issued by the premier's office.
"Italy has decided to increase the operative flexibility of its planes by means of aimed actions against specific military targets belonging to Gaddafi's regime with the goal of defending the Libyan civil population," the statement said.