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Romania, Dutch send troops to enforce Libya embargo

by (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Click For Restrictions. http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Tuesday, 22 March 2011 22:56 GMT

(adds Netherlands contribution)

BUCHAREST, March 22 (Reuters) - Romania will contribute 207 troops to NATO efforts to enforce an arms embargo on Libya, as requested by the alliance, President Traian Basescu said on Tuesday.

Ambassadors of the 28 NATO states meeting in Brussels on Tuesday decided to activate a plan for alliance warships and aircraft to implement the U.N.-decreed arms embargo on Libya. [ID:nLDE72L1JQ]

The Dutch government later said it would also contribute about 200 soldiers, including six F-16 jet fighters and one mine hunter ship.

"There was a NATO request for a frigate and two officers from the naval forces' general staff," Romania's Basescu said after a meeting of the country's Supreme Defence Council.

Frigate Regele Ferdinand with 205 troops on board and two officers from the navy's general staff will be ready to leave on its mission within 30 days, he said.

Basescu also said the council decided to supplement the country's troops to Afghanistan with 66 gendarmes to help train riot police.

Dutch Defence Minister Hans Hillen told reporters the Dutch contribution was for three months, after which NATO and the Netherlands would decide if and how to continue the mission. The jet fighters and ship will start operations within a few days. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie in Bucharest and Gilbert Kreijger in Amsterdam; Editing by Alison Williams)

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