Britain sends in gunships to break Gaddafi

PRIME Minister David Cameron has approved the use of British helicopters in Libya as Nato forces look to "turn the screw" on Muammar Gaddafi, it was confirmed last night.

The announcement came after Mr Cameron reached the decision following a meeting of the UK's National Security Council at Downing Street yesterday.

The Apache aircraft could participate in strikes within days.

The French government had already confirmed it would send Tigre helicopters to aid the campaign against the Libyan regime, suggesting they expected their British counterparts to do the same. But Cameron and Defence Secretary Liam Fox requested more intelligence before making their decision.

The final decision lay with Cameron, who held discussions with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the G8 summit in France yesterday.

It is understood that MI6 has told the Prime Minister that Gaddafi's behaviour is increasingly paranoid and that the dictator is "on the run" from coalition attack. It is believed he has been hiding in hospitals in order to avoid attack.

A senior diplomatic source in the UK said Gadaffi's commanders have stopped using telephones to avoid being overheard. That has hampered the regime's ability to fight as they struggle to communicate effectively, whilst there is also evidence of further defections from the military.

Intelligence is believed to have persuaded Cameron that the time is right to "turn the screw" on the regime.

Last night, a government source said: "There is a picture building up of a man who is paranoid and a regime that is feeling the pressure and beginning to fracture. He is on the run."

Four Apache helicopters will now be put at the disposal at the Nato command in the country, alongside existing warplane deployments and the 12 French attack helicopters Mr Sarkozy has already approved.

It is hoped the use of attack helicopters will reduce the chance of civilian casualties. Attack helicopters are capable of flying close to the ground and are expected to target Gaddafi's forces around Misrata and other urban areas. They are likely to be used to attack a wider range of targets than long-distance aircraft and can reach speeds of 362km/h.

The Apache helicopters also have thermal imaging capabilities and can take enhanced video images that have been used in Afghanistan. There had been fears that low-flying aircraft would be at increased risk of being hit by surface-to-air missiles, which Col Gaddafi's followers are believed to have access to.

The helicopters are normally based in Suffolk, though they are currently on an exercise in the Mediterranean. It is understood they will be based at HMS Ocean. It is likely they will be deployed within days.The coalition had been accused of keeping parliament "in the dark" over its plans to deploy helicopters to Libya after the French defence minister said Britain would follow France in sending the aircraft.

On Tuesday, defence minister Nick Harvey told the Commons that it was only an "option" that was being considered.

Meanwhile, RAF jets have attacked a military vehicle depot in the Libyan desert.

Major General John Lorimer, the Chief of Defence Staff's spokesman, said last night: "A major target for the Royal Air Force contingent yesterday was the large military vehicle depot at Tiki in the west, which has been supporting regime attacks on the civilian population in the Djebel Nafousa region, south west of Tripoli.

"Tornado and Typhoon aircraft, accompanied by other Nato aircraft, used Paveway guided bombs to attack multiple targets within the depot, causing very extensive damage."