US warships headed for Libya arrive in Greece

The USS Ponce warship
© AFP/File

ATHENS (AFP) – Two US warships carrying marines and equipment to help evacuate people fleeing Libya arrived on Friday at a US naval base on the Greek island of Crete, a spokesman at the base told AFP.

The USS Kearsage and the USS Ponce set anchor at Souda Bay, Paul Farley said.

As part of international efforts to help evacuate people fleeing Libya, US President Barack Obama directed the use of military aircraft to help Egyptians who have fled to the Tunisian border return home, Farley said in a statement.

The Kearsage and Ponce had crossed the Suez Canal and reached the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday. The Kearsage amphibious ready group includes 800 marines, a fleet of helicopters and medical facilities.

Their arrival came amid reports that forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi have regained control of Zawiyah, near Tripoli, from rebel hands.

About 400 Marines from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina arrived Thursday at the base amid a “repositioning” of forces in the region, said Farley.

The naval base supplies US and NATO forces in the region following an agreement with the US in 1990, a Greek defence ministry official said.

According to Athens, three Greek navy vessels have since last week also been patrolling the Mediterranean Sea between Crete and Libya to protect Greek ships participating in the evacuation of foreign nationals from Libya.

Western powers are arguing over imposing a proposed no-fly zone over Libya to support rebels fighting Kadhafi’s regime. Some opposition figures in Libya have begun calling for air strikes.

But Kadhafi warned in a speech on Wednesday that “thousands” would die if the West intervened to support the uprising against him.

An American aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise — which has fighter jets that could enforce a possible no-fly zone — could also be called upon for the Libya crisis.