Libyan plane shot down by French fighter jet, report

A Libyan military aircraft was shot down in Misrata by a French fighter jet on Thursday, an American official told the AFP news agency, confirming an earlier report on American television.

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The circumstances of the attack are still unknown, but the G-2 Galeb appeared to have been shot down during the landing process, says the official.

If the aircraft was taken down in flight, it will become the first Libyan plane to be assaulted since the no-fly zone was enacted on 17 March by the UN Security Council.

The Security Council authorised all necessary measures, excluding troops on the ground, to protect civilians under threat of attack in Libya.

France has approximately 20 fighter planes deployed to the North African country, including Rafale warplanes.