The Dutch cabinet will not agree to a NATO request to carry out bombing missions in Libya, defence sources told daily De Telegraaf.

NATO has called on the Netherlands to join other European countries in carrying out air strikes on ground targets in Libya, De Telegraaf reports. The continuation of the NATO mission in Libya is on the agenda of a NATO meeting scheduled for Thursday in Brussels, which Dutch Defence Minister Hans Hillen will also be attending.

The cabinet is expected to decide on Friday whether the Dutch contribution to the Unified Protector mission will continue. Parliament is divided on the issue. The Freedom Party (PVV), on which the government relies for its majority in parliament, opposes any further Dutch participation. NATO has already decided to extend the mission until September.

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