Libya: UK 'considers' using attack helicopters

No decision has yet been taken on deploying UK Apache attack helicopters to Libya, the government has insisted.

Defence minister Nick Harvey was forced to explain the situation to MPs yesterday when Labour tabled an urgent question about the reported "escalation" of the Nato-led mission. The Opposition said Parliament was being "kept in the dark" after French defence minister Gerard Longuet said Britain would follow France.

"The British, who have assets similar to ours, will also commit. The sooner the better is what the British think," Mr Longuet told reporters at a European Union meeting.

But Mr Harvey told the Commons: "The French have taken a decision to deploy attack helicopters in Libya. No such decision has been taken by the UK. It is an option we are considering. There is no sense in which it is true to say that we have kept Parliament in the dark about a decision."

If authorised, Apaches could fly from HMS Ocean for joint operations with French aircraft.