Hague gives warning to Europe over ‘mission creep’ in Libya

Mr Hague also slapped down European foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton for demanding a 5.8 per cent budget increase for the External Action Service – the European Union’s new diplomatic wing.

And he insisted the relationship between the United States and other Nato countries was working well, while Britain was still deciding whether to send Apache helicopters into action against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s forces in Libya.

Asked about the role of the External Action Service, the Foreign Secretary said: “We will always guard against mission creep.

“We are very clear about what’s a UK responsibility and what is an External Action Service responsibility.

“I am certainly giving a pre-emptive warning. Where we have seen one or two instances of it, we have dealt with that but we will always be vigilant about that.”

Nato carried out some of its heaviest strikes on the Libyan capital Tripoli yesterday after it emerged that Britain and France are to deploy attack helicopters in Libya in an effort to break the stalemate in the conflict.

More than 20 strikes were launched within half an hour around Col Gaddafi’s residential compound in the Libyan capital, sending heavy plumes of smoke around the city and rattling windows.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said at least three people were killed and dozens wounded in Nato strikes that targeted what he said were buildings used by volunteer units of the Libyan army.

Nato said a number of the strikes hit a vehicle storage building next to Bab al-Aziziya that had been used in supplying regime forces “conducting attacks on civilians”.

It was not immediately clear if the facility was the only target hit. Bab al-Azizya, which contains a number of military facilities, has been pounded repeatedly by Nato strikes.

As jets flew low over the city during the night, anti-aircraft fire crackled in response, shouts and screams could be heard outside a hotel where journalists were staying, and Gaddafi supporters sounded car horns and fired guns. Observers described the bombing as the heaviest attack on the Libyan capital since Nato began its air campaign on March 19.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defence said “all options are being looked at” in response to a claim by France’s defence minister Gerard Longuet that attack helicopters would be used by Britain and France.

Any use of attack helicopters such as the RAF’s Apaches, which can hit small targets in built-up areas – like besieged city Misrata – would represent a significant stepping-up of international military operations.

It is understood that, if authorised, Apaches could fly from HMS Ocean in the Mediterranean for joint operations with French aircraft to stop the forces of dictator Muammar Gaddafi targeting civilians in Misrata.

French foreign minister Alain Juppe has confirmed that France is sending helicopters to Libya, which he said would fall within UN Security Council resolution 1973, that authorises the protection of civilians.

He said: “The British, who have similar resources to us, are going to do the same thing we are.”

French amphibious assault ship Le Tonnerre sailed from Toulon last week and media reports suggest it is carrying 12 helicopters and sailing for the Libyan coast.

The former head of the Army, Gen Lord Dannatt, has warned that ground troops may be needed to oust Gaddafi.