In a telephone conversation he had informed US President Barack Obama "that Italy has decided to respond positively" to an appeal by the head of the NATO military alliance, Berlusconi said in a statement.

"Italy has decided to augment the operational flexibility of its planes through targeted actions against specific military objectives on Libyan territory in the context of contributing to protecting the Libyan civilian population," he said.

In this way, "Italy remains within the limits set by the (NATO) mandate for the operation and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council."

NATO bombs razed the Libyan leader's office in his immense Tripoli residence overnight, while rebels in besieged Misrata said they had pushed Kadhafi's forces out of the city.

Massive protests in February -- inspired by the revolts that toppled long-time autocrats in Egypt and Tunisia -- escalated into war when Kadhafi's troops fired on demonstrators and protesters seized several eastern towns.

An international coalition intervened on March 19, launching air raids and missile strikes under a UN mandate aimed at protecting civilians from Kadhafi's forces.

NATO took command of the air campaign on March 31.

Italy, which has ruled out ground operations in Libya, said it was stepping up its contribution after heavy fighting in Misrata claimed numerous civilian victims.

This was "to augment the efficiency of the mission," Berlusconi said, and to ensure "the cessation of all attacks against populations and inhabited areas by the forces of Colonel Moamer Kadhafi".

The Italian leader said he had announced the decision to his British counterpart David Cameron and NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and will discuss it in Rome at a bilateral summit Tuesday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Italy has previously made available seven air force bases for its NATO allies to launch raids on Libya, and put on standby four planes that have not yet been deployed.

Italian Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa said the new approach did not mean "more or less risk, either for the soldiers or for our country."

A spokesman for the Libyan regime earlier deplored the overnight NATO bombing as "an attempt to assassinate the leader (Kadhafi)," who he said was in a safe place and his morale was high.

Italy, like France and Britain, last week agreed to send military advisers to assist Libya's Benghazi-based rebel Transitional National Council (TNC) in its battle against Kadhafi's better-armed and better-trained forces.

Italy, Libya's former colonial ruler, has said it would like to see Kadhafi and his family cede power voluntarily to pave the way for a political solution to the conflict.

Kadhafi's regime has accused the United States, which launched its first Predator drone strikes over the weekend, of crimes against humanity.

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