Britain has announced that it will deploy Apache helicopter gunships in Libya, saying the change in tactics will give a final push to the regime of an increasingly paranoid Moamar Gaddafi. The announcement came during the G8 summit of rich nations in the French resort of Deauville. A British government official at the summit said ministers have given clearance in principle to use Apaches and they will become a capable asset at NATO's disposal. The official did not specify when they would be deployed, saying it was an operational decision.Before the announcement, there were days of reports that Britain would join France in sending choppers to join the stalled NATO campaign against Mr Gaddafi's forces. A British government source said Britain would operate four of the heavily armed helicopters from the HMS Ocean, a helicopter carrier that will be based off the coast of the North African country.