The BBC World Service began broadcasting a new FM radio service in the Libyan rebel-held cities of Benghazi and Misrata on Thursday, the British broadcaster said. BBC Arabic already operates on Libyan television and on short- and medium-wave radio, "and we are pleased to be extending our availability to FM radio," it said in a statement. It will be in Arabic, with a "Newshour" programme in English once a day.
Liliane Landor, the BBC's controller of languages, said: "This year has been a very difficult one for Libyans. "It is important for local people to have access to news and information that they can trust, and the BBC has experience of delivering that."