<p>Italy has "granted the use of military bases on its national territory", the government's press office said after an emergency cabinet meeting in Rome, yesterday.<br /><br />"The Americans and the British have already made requests for some bases," Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa told a meeting in parliament.<br /><br />He added that seven air bases in Italy were available for operations.<br />Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Italy had also shut down its embassy in Tripoli and evacuated diplomatic staff following the UN vote.<br /><br />Frattini also stressed Italy would prefer the involvement of NATO as a "protection umbrella" against possible retaliation attacks from Libya.<br /><br />Italian aircraft could be used "to identify targets linked to a no-fly zone that if violated would trigger an attack on radars or air defence," he added.<br /><br />Italy "will play its role on the frontline", he continued.<br />The use of Italy's air bases is seen as critical for any military action because of its location just across the Mediterranean from northern Libya.</p>
<p>Italy has "granted the use of military bases on its national territory", the government's press office said after an emergency cabinet meeting in Rome, yesterday.<br /><br />"The Americans and the British have already made requests for some bases," Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa told a meeting in parliament.<br /><br />He added that seven air bases in Italy were available for operations.<br />Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Italy had also shut down its embassy in Tripoli and evacuated diplomatic staff following the UN vote.<br /><br />Frattini also stressed Italy would prefer the involvement of NATO as a "protection umbrella" against possible retaliation attacks from Libya.<br /><br />Italian aircraft could be used "to identify targets linked to a no-fly zone that if violated would trigger an attack on radars or air defence," he added.<br /><br />Italy "will play its role on the frontline", he continued.<br />The use of Italy's air bases is seen as critical for any military action because of its location just across the Mediterranean from northern Libya.</p>