Libyan envoy in Europe as emergency talks begin

BRUSSELS (AP) -- The Libyan government, trying to put down an uprising against leader Moammar Gadhafi, is mounting a diplomatic press to stave off tough action by the European Union and NATO.

Mohamed Tahir Siala, a Libyan envoy, met Thursday with two Greek foreign ministry officials. Similar talks were held in Lisbon on Wednesday with Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado.

The meetings come as European leaders begin two days of emergency talks about Libya, which appears to be descending into civil war.

NATO defense ministers began a two-day meeting in Brussels, and the alliance extended its coverage of Libya's coastal area by keeping an airborne warning and control plane on patrol 24 hours a day.

EU foreign ministers were also meeting, and EU heads of government have an emergency summit set for Friday.

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