Thursday, March 17, 2011

UN security council to vote on Libya no-fly zone resolution

Draft reflects shift by Washington since it would not only introduce a no-fly zone but would authorise use of air strikes

Ewen MacAskill in Washington
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 17 March 2011

"The United Nations security council is planning to vote on Thursday on a draft resolution that would not only introduce a no-fly zone over Libya but would authorise the use of air strikes to stop the advance of forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

The draft, supported by the US, Britain, France and Germany, reflects a shift by Washington, which has become alarmed by the speed at which the uprising is collapsing and concerned at the possibility of a massacre in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

The US until this week had been totally opposed to becoming involved militarily in Libya.

The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, told reporters on Wednesday night after a day of intensive negotiation: "We need to be prepared to contemplate steps that include, but perhaps go beyond, a no-fly zone at this point, as the situation on the ground has evolved, and as a no-fly zone has inherent limitations in terms of protection of civilians at immediate risk."...."

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