Britain to give military training to Libyan security forces

, June 12: Britain's

ministry announced Wednesday that the British Army is to train over 300 members of the Libyan security forces in the coming six months.

The Libyan forces, who arrived in Britain Tuesday, will learn basic infantry skills and military leadership at Bassingbourn Camp in Cambridgeshire of England, Xinhua reported.

They will be trained on a 24-week programme developed by the British Army and run by 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

The Libyan forces' arrival came after an announcement last year that Britain would help train up to 2,000 Libyan troops.

The training "will better prepare them to support Libya's transition to a stable and open democracy," British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said.

IANS