U.S. to begin training Libyan soldiers by mid-year

The United States' top military commander to Africa told the Associated Press Friday that the Pentagon is planning to commence training for Libyan soldiers by midyear to help "boost the [north African country's] security."

The head of the U.S. Africa Command, Gen. David Rodriguez, told reporters that the U.S. will train between 5,000 to 8,000 Libyan soldiers during a 24-week program.

The training is intended to be one part of a larger international effort to curb growing violence and chaos that has enveloped Libya since the oust of former dictator Moammar Gaddafi.