Italian officials vowed to do whatever it takes to free the crew of an Italian tugboat apparently seized by Libyan officials at Tripoli’s port as US and European airstrikes enforced a no-fly zone over Libya.

Six Danish F-16 fighter jets have landed at the US naval air station in Sigonella, Sicily as the international military build-up mounts for possible action against Libya.

THERE were conflicting reports of fighting in Libya last night as countries prepared to enforce a no-fly zone over the country and the west, allied with the Arab League, the African Union and the UN, prepare to meet in Paris today.

The Italian government is being urged to send in the army to help fight the ’ndrangheta mob in the wake of fresh threats against the state.

Italy will send around 1,000 extra troops to Afghanistan, the country’s Defence Minister said today.

Italy today denied that its secret services bribed the Taliban to stop them killing its soldiers patrolling in Afghanistan.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said it would be best for international troops to leave Afghanistan soon, after a bomb blast in Kabul killed six of his country’s soldiers.

A key member of Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative government has called for Italy’s soldiers to be withdrawn from Afghanistan, but the Italian defence minister immediately insisted the troops would stay.

Giovanni Trapattoni believes the Italian Football Federation will never be able to prevent the country’s supporters from watching their national team away from home.

An extra 500 troops are being deployed on the streets of Naples to deal with violent crime after the murder of six African immigrants sparked rioting.

Hundreds of troops were deployed on the streets in cities across Italy today as part of government measures to fight street crime.