Lejeune Marines may be headed to Libya

Camp Lejeune, N.C. — Camp Lejeune Marines might be heading to Libya, U.S. Department of Defense officials said Tuesday, as violent anti-government demonstrations continue in the Middle Eastern nation.

"As part of our contingency planning to provide the president flexibility on a full range of options regarding Libya, we are repositioning forces in the region," said Marines spokesman Maj. Carl Redding. "We will not speculate about possible missions or provide more detail about movement of forces."

Marines from the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force stationed at Camp Lejeune have been ordered to join troops assigned to Navy assault ships the USS Kearsarge and USS Ponce, a defense department spokeswoman said.