Italy s Mediterranean naval mission gets new commander

Rome Aug 7 (IANS/AKI) Italian Rear Admiral Enrico Pacioni on Monday became the new commander of his country s naval mission in the Mediterranean which is now conducting security operations in some 160 000 square km including Libyan coastal waters.

Following a request to Rome from Libya s UN-backed unity government chief Fayez al-Sarraj the Italian parliament on August 2 approved the naval mission aimed at aiding Libyan Coastguard fight the gangs trafficking migrants across the Mediterranean.

Libya s unity government said it had only requested logistical and technical support for Libyan Coastguard from Italy Libya s LANA news quoted the country s Foreign Ministry as stating last week.

The Italian naval mission has heightened disagreement between Sarraj s unity government and the rival administration in the eastern city of Tobruk which in recent days has slammed the mission as "a violation of Libyan sovereignty".

Italy s naval mission to Libya will not be "aggressive" but will give support to its crisis-hit former colony Premier Paolo Gentiloni stated last Wednesday after lawmakers voted in favour of the mission.

--IANS/AKI
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