The 340 Libyan soldiers currently being trained in Italy are the first to benefit from a bilateral agreement that will see up to 2,000 troops trained in 2014.

A representative at the Italian Embassy in Tripoli told the Libya Herald that the programme, organised by the Italian Ministry of Defence, is the second phase of an agreement to help rebuild the Libyan armed forces signed by Libya and Italy in May 2012. Other training initiatives, with Britain, the United States and Turkey, are also underway.

Image: Libyan Recruits (photo: UN Support Mission in Libya)