Military leaders from 30 countries attend Rome meeting to discuss Libya initiatives

Military leaders from 30 countries attended a meeting in Rome on Tuesday to discuss initiatives regarding the situation in Libya, Italian Foreign Minister Paulo Gentiloni said.

The purpose of the meeting, held at Rome’s Centocelle military airport, was to prepare for the establishment of a joint force to develop stability in Libya, Italian television said without giving further details. The United Nations also attended the meeting.

Gentiloni stressed that the development of plans does not mean intervention.

Italy recently said it would be prepared to provide military forces but only at the request of a long-delayed Libyan national unity government and after parliamentary approval.