March 12, 2011Arab League endorses Libyan no-fly zone
The Arab League on Saturday called on the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.
The move could have a significant impact on U.S. and European deliberations over how to respond to the conflict that has erupted in recent weeks as rebels have seized half of Libya, and Col. Moammar Gaddafi's security forces have struck back with massive firepower. NATO has said that an Arab endorsement of the no-fly zone was a precondition for taking such action.
The 22-member organization, which held a foreign ministers' meeting Saturday in Cairo, can't impose a no-fly zone itself. But its approval gives the U.S. and other Western powers crucial regional backing they say they need before doing so.
Rebels seeking to oust Moammar Gadhafi say they need a no-fly zone to protect them from airstrikes.
The Obama administration has said a no-fly zone may have limited impact, and the international community is divided over the issue.
In a statement released after a closed session, the Arab League said it was asking "the United Nations to carry out its responsibility to impose a no-fly zone over Libya."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/12/AR2011031200900.html?hpid=topnews
