The United States increased its military presence amid the tensions in Libya, with the aircraft carrier USS Kearsage arriving Friday at a US Navy base on Crete, dpa reported.
The Kearsage, with a fleet of helicopters and about 1,100 marines on board arrived at Souda Bay during the morning. A second vessel, the attack destroyer USS Ponce, was set to arrive later in the day.
On Thursday, President Barack Obama said US military aircraft will join international efforts to help evacuate refugees from the Libyan border with Tunisia and called on Libyan leader Colonel Moamer Gaddafi to leave the country.
While Gaddafi's troops continue their attack against opposition forces, US and European leaders are considering the use of NATO air power to impose a no-fly zone to prevent air attacks on the Libyan opposition.