Italy approves military mission in Niger, more troops to North Africa

FILE PHOTO - Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni stands during a southern European Union nations meeting in Rome, Italy January 10, 2018. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's parliament approved on Wednesday an increased military presence in Libya and the deployment of up to 470 troops in Niger to combat migration and the trafficking of people towards Europe, many of whom wash up on Italian shores.

At the end of last year, Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said he would redeploy some troops to North Africa from Iraq and Afghanistan, requiring parliament to reopen to give its consent, despite having already closed ahead of the March 4 national election.