that sustaining the high tempo of air strikes both from RAF Tornado and Typhoons, as well as Navy warships and Army Apaches attack helicopters did "increase the pressure on both personnel and equipment as planning assumptions are tested, and it tests the ability of defence companies to support front-line operations".

*On Wednesday, the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg) recognised the rebel council, and TNC leader Mahmud Jibril was due to meet with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

*Canada has committed seven fighter jets to the NATO mission along with two air refuellers, two surveillance aircraft and a frigate. In all, more than 600 Canadian Forces personnel are involved in the mission, including Canadian Lt.-Gen. Charles Bouchard who is leading the NATO operation.

*Russia will not send envoys to theparties to increase their focus on working towards a political solution. We would like to see indirect negotiations evolve into direct ones.

12h/In the Western Mountains region southwest of Tripoli, rebels again came under fire from Legaly Libyan Army

11h/ In the skies above Libya, the U.S. Navy has been deploying a small fleet of supersonic EA-18 Growler jets to "jam" Muammar Al Qathafi's ground radar, giving NATO fighters and bombers free rein to strike tanks, communication depots and other strategic targets.

10h/ A son of the Libyan leader, Seif al-Islam, told Algerian newspaper El Khabar in an interview on Monday that Al Qathafi's government was in talks with the French government.
Speaking from Tripoli, he was quoted by the newspaper as saying, "The truth is that we are negotiating with France