Swedish Parliament passes bill to join NATO-led operation in Libya
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Xinhua, April 1, 2011
Swedish Parliament, Riksdagen, Friday passed with broad majority a bill that allows the government to send 8 fighter jets to join the NATO-led operation in Libya.
With 240 votes for, 8 against and 5 abstention, the bill was passed. Among the opposition, only the far-right newly entered Swedish Democratic Party is opposed to the bill while all the other seven parties are for it.
According to the bill, Swedish airplanes will only be used to maintain no-fly zone over Libya and not participate in fighting on the ground which is different from the neighboring mission from Norway and Denmark.
In addition to eight Jas 39 Gripen aircraft, a Hercules plane and a searching airplane will also be sent to Libya together over 100 persons who will stay there in a three-month term, according to the legislation.
The Swedish Air Force said the first airplanes can depart from Sweden this weekend and can take part in the NATO-led air operation in Libya next week.
