France to keep up pressure on Libya

France's defense minister vowed on Saturday to keep up its aerial bombardment of Muammar Gaddafi's troops in Libya as it readies to withdraw the conflict's only aircraft carrier for maintenance.

Defense Minister Gerard Longuet said France would move its Rafale fighter jets to NATO's Sicily base from its aircraft carrier in Corsica, giving it closer access to Tripoli. France said in June it would withdraw its Charles de Gaulle carrier, which has been at sea for 18 months, for maintenance in the autumn. (Reuters)