Berlin, Sep 9, IRNA -- Although Germany officially opposed the war in Libya, dozens of its soldiers were actively assisting NATO's controversial military mission in the north African country, press reports said here Friday.
A total of 103 German officers and staff sergeants performed various duties, including
target selection as well as transmitting orders to AWACS reconnaissance planes, the
government replied in a parliamentary inquiry, made by a senior lawmaker of the opposition Green party, Hans-Christian Stroebele.
The Berlin government had initially told Stroebele last month that only 11 German soldiers based at NATO facilities in Italy were performing duties, including ones 'in
the area of so-called target selection' for NATO airstrikes.
German media reports had revealed earlier German soldiers were more directly involved in NATO air attacks against Libyan forces than was previously known.
It has already been known for months that as part of Germany's NATO obligations, its military officers participated in controlling the Libyan no-fly zone even though the
Berlin government voted against such a UN mandate.
The latest revelations are set to further embarrass the center-right government of Chancellor Angela Merkel which refused to join NATO's highly controversial military mission in Libya aimed at overthrowing Libyan dictator Moammar Qadhafi.
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