Over half the Dutch population supports joining the international military intervention in Libya, a poll reveals.
Around 55 percent of those surveyed by peil.nl favour Dutch participation in the UN-mandated operation against Libya. Just six percent of respondents oppose any form of international intervention.
Close to 77 percent wished the UN had acted sooner. The poll was conducted on Friday and Saturday among 2,500 Dutch citizens.
The outcome is a boost for Prime Minister Mark Rutte's centre-right government, which has offered military assistance to the operation, dubbed Odyssey Dawn by the US. Mr Rutte has indicated that any Dutch participation will likely be within a NATO framework. The Netherlands could offer F16 fighter jets, or Navy assistance involving the frigate HNLMS Tromp off the Libyan coast, as well as submarines.
(rk/cl)
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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Nice write-up and definitely can assist with understanding the subject better.
At the same time a majority of the Dutch population wants further budgets cuts for the Ministry of Defence. Can't have one's cake and eat it too.