Arab League asks for no-fly zone over Libya
Published: Mar 12, 2011 19:07 Updated: Mar 13, 2011 03:56
CAIRO: The Arab League asked the UN Security Council Saturday to impose a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians from air attack by forces of Muammar Qaddafi’s embattled government, giving crucial backing to a key demand of the rebel forces battling to oust the Libyan leader.
Foreign ministers from the 22-member Arab bloc, meeting in Cairo, also left the Libyan leader of more than 40 years increasingly isolated, declaring his government had “lost its sovereignty.”
They also appeared to confer legitimacy on the rebel’s interim government, the National Libyan Council, saying they would establish contacts with the umbrella group and calling on nations to provide it with “urgent help.”
“The Arab League asks the United Nations to shoulder its responsibility ... to impose a no-fly zone over the movement of Libyan military planes and to create safe zones in the places vulnerable to airstrikes,” said a League statement released after the emergency session.
League Secretary-General Amr Moussa stressed in remarks afterward that a no-fly zone was intended as a humanitarian measure to protect Libyan civilians and foreigners in the country and not as a military intervention.
That stance appeared meant to win over the deeply Arab nationalist government of Syria, which has smarted against foreign intervention into Arab affairs.
The Arab League cannot impose a no-fly zone itself. But the approval of the key regional Arab body gives the US and other Western powers crucial regional backing they say they need before doing so. Many were weary that Western powers would be seen as intervening in the affairs of an Arab country if they began a no-fly zone without Arab approval.
Still, the Obama administration has said a no-fly zone may have limited impact, and the international community is divided over the issue.
Backing the rebel’s political leadership, the League statement said it had faced “grievous violations and serious crimes by the Libyan authorities, which have lost their sovereignty.” The League’s decision comes hours before the European Union’s policy chief is set to arrive in Cairo to meet with the Arab bloc’s leaders to discuss the situation in Libya.
Catherine Ashton said she hoped to discuss a “collaborative approach” with Arab League chief Moussa on Libya and the rest of the region.
Ashton said it was necessary to evaluate how effective economic sanctions imposed on Qaddafi’s regime had been so far and that she was “keeping all options moving forward” regarding any additional measures.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle welcomed the EU’s “very cautious” stance on possible military intervention.
“We do not want to be drawn into a war in north Africa — we should have learned from the events in and surrounding Iraq,” Westerwelle said.
“It is very important that the impression doesn’t arise that this is a conflict of the West against the Arab world or a Christian crusade against people of Muslim faith.”
Comments
RASHID
Mar 13, 2011 04:38
Report abuseBARBARA
Mar 13, 2011 04:38
Report abuseIf not, why not?
MOHAMMED
Mar 13, 2011 04:41
Report abuseROBERT
Mar 13, 2011 04:43
Report abuseEDONIS PEREIRA RIBEIRO
Mar 13, 2011 04:43
Report abuseRAJ USA
Mar 13, 2011 04:45
Report abuseDENTON
Mar 13, 2011 14:08
Report abusePREDICTOR
Mar 13, 2011 14:08
Report abuseMUHAMMED
Mar 13, 2011 14:17
Report abuseWELL WISHER
Mar 13, 2011 14:20
Report abuseLibya is country who had not suffered due to USA sanctions. The libyan people did not suffer and they lived peacefully and wealthy.
Even jobless Libyans were getting 500 Dinars (appr. 450$) and the living expense in Libya would be covered by 150$. Libya was another saudi arabia providing jobs to million foreigners.
The security and peace in Libya was high enough. Anybody could travel and roam outside without any fear unlike european and other countries.
I hope anybody who writes comments here should look at the past history.
Does any body tell his father"Dad, you are my dad for past 42 years, please get out now!"???
A.K
Mar 13, 2011 14:38
Report abuseFAROOK
Mar 13, 2011 15:16
Report abuseFASH
Mar 13, 2011 15:41
Report abusePETER
Mar 13, 2011 17:04
Report abuseACID
Mar 13, 2011 18:24
Report abuse"ARAB LEAGUE asking west because they're afraid to LOST the RELATIONSHIP".
CANUK
Mar 13, 2011 20:09
Report abuseHUNTERS
Mar 13, 2011 23:00
Report abuseTo ARAB LEAGUE .. DO YOUR DUTIES ... AND ... DONT ASK OTHERS TO PERFORM SUCH DUTIES IN YOUR BEHALF.
My opinon is .... integrate your arab soldiers and military hardware with ... US and NATO .... under its command to perform MILITARY ACTIONS in libya to protect the rebels and civilians .... but those civilians are no longer civilians if they are holding guns ... PROVIDE SOME FINANCIAL EXPENSES FOR THE OPERATIONS .... THAS IT ...
EUROPEAN WOMAN
Mar 13, 2011 23:03
Report abuseThe Arabs should be sending their own troops to save their brothers instead of depending on the West.
We have heard this song before. Complying will get the West nothing but blame and more terror attacks.
HERZOG
Mar 13, 2011 23:22
Report abuseFly ZONE? Will we at last see the arabs,finally taking a responsible actions, themselves, in helping their brothers to overthrow the Libyan butcher
Surely they would not relay on the European to do the job for them, again?
MERLIN
Mar 14, 2011 10:13
Report abuseFAROOK doesn't think; he is perpetually pre-programmed to hate. Anger is his only strength, the thought process has been truly eliminated from his arsenal?
HIFZUR RAB
Mar 14, 2011 10:16
Report abuseOnly right solution is ensure a dialogue between Libiyan regime and the protesters. arabs must use all their resources to stop blood shed/Civil war in Libiya.
GEORGE
Mar 15, 2011 11:55
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