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UN Security Council approves Libya no-fly zone
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March 17, 2011
Original URL: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/UN_Security_Council_approves_Libya_no-fly_zone



The United Nations Security Council has approved the establishment of a
no-fly zone over Libya after a vote on Thursday evening.  

A meeting in New York City resulted in the approval of a resolution that
would mark the beginning of "all necessary measures short of an
occupation force to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas" in
Libya. The vote on the measure passed with ten of the fifteen members of
the Security Council in support and , , ,  and   absenting.

The resolution had been proposed by the United Kingdom, France and
Lebanon. In his remarks introducing the measure before the Council, ,
the French foreign minister, said that "[w]e cannot let these warmongers
do this, we cannot abandon civilians."

Air attacks on government forces in Libya could take place within hours,
flown by the French and British air forces, after NATO meets to review
plans for military action.

In response to the vote, a statement aired on Libyan state TV said that
"[a]ny foreign military act against Libya will expose all air and
maritime traffic in the Mediterranean Sea to danger, and civilian and
military [facilities] will become targets of Libya's counterattack." 

Libya's ruler, , also said that government troops planned to move
against  Thursday night. "No more fear, no more hesitation, the moment
of truth has come. [...] There will be no mercy. Our troops will be
coming to Benghazi tonight."

The UK ambassador to the UN, , said after the vote that "[t]he
international community has come together in deploring the actions of
the Gaddafi regime and demanding that the regime end this violence
against the Libyan people."

In Benghazi, rebels celebrated the passage of the resolution with
fireworks after a live broadcast of the vote was shown on an outdoor
projection.

== Sources == 

* http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12781009
* http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/17/libya-un-security-council-air
* http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/201131720311168561.html



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