CORPORAL Chris Morris is playing a key role protecting Libyan civilians from the Gaddafi regime.

The former Honley High School pupil is part of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Tactical Communications Wing.

It is responsible for setting up essential communication lines from Gioia del Colle air base in Italy, as part of Operation Ellamy.

The team has been working 14 hours a day, seven days a week providing communication networks to support RAF Tornado and Typhoon aircraft.

The RAF aircraft are being used to help enforce the UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which aims to protect Libyan civilians from the Gaddafi regime.

Chris, 27, said: “It is great to be working in a different and challenging environment working with both Tornados and Typhoons.

“It’s been ridiculously busy, but that’s made the time fly by and the experience has been excellent. I’ve dealt with almost everything.”

Chris’s grandmother was an RAF nurse and his grandfather was a Mosquito navigator so he was inspired to join the RAF from a young age.

The Honley man also enjoys the travel aspect of his job.

He said: “The RAF has also taken me on operations to Afghanistan and Oman twice. It has certainly been an eye-opening and enjoyable career so far.”

Libya’s leaders yesterday named a new cabinet and promised to step down after the country is fully secured, putting an end to weeks of political infighting.

The head of the National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, and de facto prime minister, Mahmoud Jibril, made the announcement in a joint news conference in the former rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

Revolutionary forces are still battling loyalists of ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi on two major fronts as well as pockets deep in the southern desert.

But Mr Abdul-Jalil said liberation will be declared after Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte is captured because that would ensure the borders are secure. He also promised to name a new transitional government within a month after liberation is declared.