British Submarines Fire on Gaddafi's Forces

The Chief of Defence Staff's strategic communications officer Major General John Lorimer said: 'I can confirm that British Armed Forces, as authorised by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, have participated in a co-ordinated strike against Libyan air defence systems.

'The UK has launched guided Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) from a Trafalgar Class submarine as part of a co-ordinated coalition plan to enforce the resolution.

'This is the first stage. UK and partner forces remain engaged in ongoing operations as we seek to ensure that Colonel Gaddafi and his forces understand that the international community will not stand by and watch them kill civilians.'

French Defence Ministry spokesman Thierry Burkhard said the first strike had been reported at around 4.45pm on a military vehicle.

Prime Minister David Cameron joined other world leaders - including representatives of several Arab states - at an emergency summit in Paris which agreed to deploy military aircraft to stop the assault on rebel stronghold Benghazi.

Colonel Gaddafi earlier flouted his own ceasefire and the UN resolution by continuing heavy artillery bombardment on the eastern city as tanks were reported in the streets.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that his country's air force was operating in the skies over Libya, while further French fighters stood ready to target Gaddafi's tanks and armoured vehicles.

Mirage and Rafale fighters were patrolling the skies above Benghazi and could be used to target Libyan tanks as they shell civilian areas of the city.

It was not immediately clear how soon the RAF's Typhoon and Tornado fighters will go into action, although the Dutch Prime Minister was reported to have said that UK, U.S. and French planes could be deployed later today.

Despite a ceasefire announced yesterday by Gaddafi's regime, artillery fire at opposition-held cities Benghazi, Misrata and Ajdabiya continued today.