Arab League asks for no-fly zone over Libya

Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, left, talks to Omani foreign minister Youssef bin Alawi during the League's emergency meeting in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday. (AP)

By DIAA HADID | AP

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

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Subhanallah, what an Immature call. If you don't have capability to intervane by your forces then please just shut your mouth and keep watching. May Allah give hidayah to Coln. Qaddafi & Other Arab Leaders. Ameen!

BARBARA

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If the UN Security Council agrees to impose a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians from air attack by forces of Muammar Qaddafi’s embattled government, will Arab League countries participate in imposing the no-fly zone?

If not, why not?

MOHAMMED

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It is pity to see arab leaders have dual policies for them and for Libya. They are dead against the demonstrations, uprsings etc. which is good in one way as they know how to rule the citizens in their own way. In the same context pressurizing another arab country libya to accpet uprising as well as surrender to the forces which may not be genunine but stooges of the west in disgise to capture the oil. We should not forget the west's lies against iraq and afghanistan, they make frenzied news, lies to invade and capture wealth of iraq and afghanistan. now our brethern are suffering for almost 2 decades

ROBERT

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While I would support a UN declared 'No Fly Zone' for the humanitarian reasons stated in the article, I am adamently opposed to the operation being one that is solely enforced and borne by NATO forces. The Arab League should be able to form a combined operation with their Air Forces and position them on either side of Libya in Egypt and Algeria to patrol Libyan air space. Unless they feel that they do not have the military expertise or unity to do so, that is. If that were the case, then they should muster what forces they have or are willing to commit, place them under NATO control and contribute financially to the logistical costs of the operation.

EDONIS PEREIRA RIBEIRO

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At the year 1985 I started learn arabic in the libyan office in Rio de Janeiro/ Brazil.

RAJ USA

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With all the hundreds of billions "invested" in (useless, for military shows only?) military hardware by the various Arab countries, why is the Arab League "asking" the UN (the great Western powers, essentially) to impose the no-fly zone? The Arab "leaders" should, for once, take responsibility for affairs in their own area, and show the rest of the world they should be accorded respect due to real (not puppet regime) countries.

DENTON

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What hypocrisy !!

PREDICTOR

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NO Flying Zone for Libya..?? That will be the DAY when the ground burns under your feet..!

MUHAMMED

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NOTHING good can be expected when this stuff is chaired by Mr. Amr Mousa.

WELL WISHER

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Let me tell me something:

Libya 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

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Arab League response is too slow & too short of expectations. What was needed from them is immediate stoppage of killing of civilians by Qaddafi by using military hardware.

FAROOK

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Arab League is very fast in meeting and asking their masters to impose a no fly zone over Libya.The reason given is that they cant just idle when their brothers are massacared by libyan forces. I would like to ask the arab league where were amir musa and the other western stooges in the arab world when the Isralis massacred the palestinians in gaza, when the americans bombed and killed innocent iraqis. One thing you must understand is in Libya it is no more a peaceful protest it is a organised armed rebellion backed by some western countries.The arab revolution should be judged by the arab sentiments and not to be decided by foreign powers to their own advantage.It is left to the libyans to decide who should rule them.If amir musa loves the arab brethern he should ask the UN to impose a no fly zone over Israel in order to protect the palestinians and also a no fly zone ovr iraq to the protect the iraqi arabs from foreign powers.

FASH

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It is not an apparent shame on all Arab and Islamic countries despite the massive natural resources and wealth that they are now relying on the West to impose and implement the No-fly Zone!! Let us say it loud to ourselves with shyness that we as Arabs and Muslims are crystal useless!!

PETER

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@Robert.Yes you are right. Not only words are here needed but also hardware.In other words all those who are now pro no fly zone should send their airforce to enforce it, maybe together with NATO. The times are over when just nice words were enough.

ACID

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In my opinion, UN or US should not imposed "no fly zone".. Arab League should figure it out themselves on how to solve the crisis over Libya or imposed "no fly zone" themselves not by asking help from westerners.. Arab League is just trying to be clever.. they're asking west to do it so that in the end, they can say that "We Muslims don't kill our Own Muslims people", Considering that they're also capable of doing so with their military capability... If UN or US did imposed it because they asking for it, at the end it will they will still blame West for killing Muslims... Come on..! Start doing it baby if u want it, You're capable more than enough... WHY ON WEST.. And Blame them at the END... I seen in Aljazeera lately, seems that UN is reluctant to do "no fly zone" because of consequences it will bring to WEST.. More terror attacks...

"ARAB LEAGUE asking west because they're afraid to LOST the RELATIONSHIP".

CANUK

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Mr. Farook, please enroll yourself in some anger management therapy and I would welcome you back hoping to hear something a bit more constructive. All the hate inside you is bad for your health and doesn't contribute to a meaningful solution in the dillema of the citizens of Libya. It seems to me that the Arab League is acting on the call of the Libyans and you are the stooge.

HUNTERS

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Arab league has all the military hardware needed for the operations ... they got all the manpower needed for deployment ... why ask the .. UN ...US and NATO .... to do the job for your brother muslims in libya ... and what the arab league do ... just watch ... what is happening ... ARAB LEAGUE IS USELESS .... they dont deserve to be called .... LEAGUE .... if they can not provide military actions againts the oppressors .... what is the purpose of arab league ?????? .... for what ????? ... the ... WEST dont like to repeat the history of ..... BLAMING THEM IN THE END .... they help and fight ... spend thier resources ... loss of christian and western lives .... FOR NOTHING ... what they got in the end ..... BLAMING THEM FOR WHAT had HAPPENED ... THEY LOST THOUSAND OF LIVES ... THEY GOT HEAVY FINANCIAL EXPENSES FOR NOTHING ... THEIR COUNTRIES WERE BOMB BY THE TERRORIST .... because of what they have done to fullfill their duties as world police ... now ... you will ask them again to perform a duty ... IN BEHALF OF THE ARAB LEAGUE ... WHO WILL SUFFER IN THE END .... who will be blamed in the end ...
To 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

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Too little, too late!

The 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

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whoa big deal, now what? Who is going to maintain and operate this NON
Fly 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

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CANUK

FAROOK 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

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May be arab leaders have bargained with west and understanding reached is to support western intervention in Libiya for withdrawal of western support for protesters in other arab countries. it seems that these leaders refuge to learn from history.
Only 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

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The only reason why the West cares is because of the oil. The M.E. countries don't care, although they talk alot. The same turmoil is happening in the Ivory Coast and nobody in the world cares.
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