French warplane shot down in Libya

A French warplane has reportedly crashed in the Libyan city of Sirte, while the US-led coalition forces’ military operation intensifies the abject state in the African nation.

The Libyan newspaper al-Watan reported Wednesday that Libyan forces shot down a French jet fighter which was bombing the city and detained its pilot.

Sirte, some 600 kilometers east of the Libyan capital Tripoli is the despotic ruler Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown.

A spokesman of the French military, however, has denied Thursday reports that the fighter jet was shot down over the Libyan city.

“No French plane was shot down in Sirte last night,” said Colonel Thierry Burkhard, French armed forces spokesperson.