RAF deploy extra warplanes over Libya as rough seas hit French aircraft carrier

The Charles de Gaulle has been so destabilised by heavy swells in the Mediterranean that its Rafale planes have been grounded several times.

Britain has had to deploy extra warplanes over Libya. It has increased the pressure on RAF top guns flying Tornados and Typhoons from the Nato air base at Gioia del Colle in southern Italy.

British Apache helicopters last night targeted a military base being used by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's force to terrorise local people.

The Nato-led international coalition said in a statement today that its forces have destroyed more than 50 military targets in the west of Libya this week.

MoD spokesman Major General Nick Pope said Apaches from the Army Air Corps were used last night to target the Al Mayah military camp near Az Zawiyah, west of Libyan capital Tripoli.

The raid came as Gaddafi threatened to carry out attacks against civilians in Europe unless Nato halts its campaign of airstrikes.

The successful sortie came after missions on Thursday night, in which RAF Typhoon and Tornado aircraft destroyed ammunition storage facilities near the central Libyan town of Waddan and a militarised 4x4 in the Al Khums area, near Tripoli.

Speaking from an unknown location yesterday, Gaddafi sent a message by telephone to supporters rallying in Tripoli's Green Square.

He warned Nato countries that the Libyans would 'one day take this battle ... to Europe, to target your homes, offices, families, which would become legitimate military targets, like you have targeted our homes'.

He added: 'We can decide to treat you in a similar way. If we decide to, we are able to move to Europe like locusts, like bees. We advise you to retreat before you are dealt a disaster.'