الرئيسية
UNITED NATIONS – The United States, France and Britain were making plans
Friday to prevent Moammar Gadhafi's forces from attacking Libyans after the U.N.
Security Council authorized a no-fly zone over Libya and "all necessary
measures" to protect civilians.
The U.N. vote on Thursday night was 10-0 with five countries abstaining
including Russia and China. India, Germany and Brazil also expressed misgivings
about approving military action.
President Barack Obama telephoned the leaders of Britain and France after the
vote, the White House said. U.S. officials speaking after a closed-door briefing
in Congress said the attempt to ground Gadhafi's air force could begin by Sunday
or Monday with the use of jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft.
"Given the critical situation on the ground, I expect immediate action on the
resolution's provisions," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said after the
vote. He pledged to "work closely with member states and regional organizations
to coordinate a common, effective and timely response."
In Brussels, NATO envoys on Friday were considering ways to enforce the U.N.
resolution. Aircraft flying from NATO bases in Sigonella, Sicily, Aviano in
northern Italy, and a U.S. carrier in the Mediterranean could enforce the no-fly
zone.
Still, China said Friday it had "serious reservations" about the Security
Council's action, with the Foreign Ministry saying China opposes using military
force in international relations. It said China has consistently stressed
respect for Libya's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity
and that the crisis should be resolved through dialogue.
The United States, France and Britain pushed for rapid approval of the
resolution as Gadhafi's forces advanced toward opposition-held Benghazi, Libya's
second-largest city. The Libyan leader warned Thursday night he would launch a
final assault on Benghazi and oust the rebels from their eastern stronghold.
The vote came five days after the Arab League called on the United Nations to
"shoulder its responsibility" by imposing a flight ban over Libya. Speaking for
Arab nations Thursday, Lebanese Ambassador Nawaf Salam said he hoped the move
would "play a deterrent role so that Libyan authorities will move away from the
logic of violence."
Libya's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi, whose support for the
opposition inspired spurred many Libyan diplomats around the world to demand
Gadhafi's ouster, called on the world to respond "immediately."
"The lives of the civilians are in danger right now and I expect the
international community to move quickly," he said.
U.S Ambassador Susan Rice said the resolution "should send a strong message
to Colonel Gadhafi and his regime that the violence must stop, the killing must
stop, and the people of Libya must be protected and have the opportunity to
express themselves freely."
The resolution establishes "a ban on all flights in the airspace of the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians." It also authorizes
U.N. member states to take "all necessary measures ... to protect civilians and
civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation." Supporters of the
resolution said authorization for "all necessary measures" provides a legal
basis for countries to carry out air strikes to protect civilians from Gadhafi's
forces.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said all three criteria for taking
action — demonstrable need, clear legal basis and broad regional support — had
now been fulfilled. "This places a responsibility on members of the United
Nations and that is a responsibility to with the United Kingdom will now
respond," Hague said.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon told France-2 Television that France
would support military action against Gadhafi within hours of the vote.
France's Foreign Minister Alain Juppe traveled to New York for the vote,
urging council members to adopt the resolution because the U.N. sanctions
against Libya they passed Feb. 26 had been ignored.
"We cannot allow these warmongers to go on," Juppe said. "We cannot let
international law and morality be flouted."
The United States joined the resolution's initial supporters — Britain,
France and Lebanon — not only in pushing for a speedy vote but also in pressing
for action beyond creation of a no-fly zone to protect civilians from air, land
and sea attacks by Gadhafi's fighters.
It was an abrupt switch by the Obama administration following weeks of
hesitation amid worries that the United States could get sucked into another war
in a Muslim nation.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters in Tunisia on Thursday
that a U.N. no-fly zone over Libya would require action to protect the planes
and pilots, "including bombing targets like the Libyan defense systems," but no
ground intervention is considered.
Explaining his abstention on the vote, Germany's U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig
said his country backed increased sanctions against Libya in an effort to force
Gadhafi from power, but "we see the danger of being drawn into a protracted
military conflict."
India's deputy ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri said his country abstained
because the resolution authorizes "far reaching measures ... with relatively
little credible information on the situation on the ground in Libya."
The resolution also calls for stronger enforcement of the U.N. arms embargo
imposed last month, adds names of individuals, companies and other entities to
the list of those subject to travel bans and asset freezes, and requires all
countries to ban Libyan flights.
___
Associated Press Writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, David Espo
in Washington and Jamey Keaten in Paris contributed to this report.
Friday to prevent Moammar Gadhafi's forces from attacking Libyans after the U.N.
Security Council authorized a no-fly zone over Libya and "all necessary
measures" to protect civilians.
The U.N. vote on Thursday night was 10-0 with five countries abstaining
including Russia and China. India, Germany and Brazil also expressed misgivings
about approving military action.
President Barack Obama telephoned the leaders of Britain and France after the
vote, the White House said. U.S. officials speaking after a closed-door briefing
in Congress said the attempt to ground Gadhafi's air force could begin by Sunday
or Monday with the use of jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft.
"Given the critical situation on the ground, I expect immediate action on the
resolution's provisions," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said after the
vote. He pledged to "work closely with member states and regional organizations
to coordinate a common, effective and timely response."
In Brussels, NATO envoys on Friday were considering ways to enforce the U.N.
resolution. Aircraft flying from NATO bases in Sigonella, Sicily, Aviano in
northern Italy, and a U.S. carrier in the Mediterranean could enforce the no-fly
zone.
Still, China said Friday it had "serious reservations" about the Security
Council's action, with the Foreign Ministry saying China opposes using military
force in international relations. It said China has consistently stressed
respect for Libya's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity
and that the crisis should be resolved through dialogue.
The United States, France and Britain pushed for rapid approval of the
resolution as Gadhafi's forces advanced toward opposition-held Benghazi, Libya's
second-largest city. The Libyan leader warned Thursday night he would launch a
final assault on Benghazi and oust the rebels from their eastern stronghold.
The vote came five days after the Arab League called on the United Nations to
"shoulder its responsibility" by imposing a flight ban over Libya. Speaking for
Arab nations Thursday, Lebanese Ambassador Nawaf Salam said he hoped the move
would "play a deterrent role so that Libyan authorities will move away from the
logic of violence."
Libya's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi, whose support for the
opposition inspired spurred many Libyan diplomats around the world to demand
Gadhafi's ouster, called on the world to respond "immediately."
"The lives of the civilians are in danger right now and I expect the
international community to move quickly," he said.
U.S Ambassador Susan Rice said the resolution "should send a strong message
to Colonel Gadhafi and his regime that the violence must stop, the killing must
stop, and the people of Libya must be protected and have the opportunity to
express themselves freely."
The resolution establishes "a ban on all flights in the airspace of the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians." It also authorizes
U.N. member states to take "all necessary measures ... to protect civilians and
civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation." Supporters of the
resolution said authorization for "all necessary measures" provides a legal
basis for countries to carry out air strikes to protect civilians from Gadhafi's
forces.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said all three criteria for taking
action — demonstrable need, clear legal basis and broad regional support — had
now been fulfilled. "This places a responsibility on members of the United
Nations and that is a responsibility to with the United Kingdom will now
respond," Hague said.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon told France-2 Television that France
would support military action against Gadhafi within hours of the vote.
France's Foreign Minister Alain Juppe traveled to New York for the vote,
urging council members to adopt the resolution because the U.N. sanctions
against Libya they passed Feb. 26 had been ignored.
"We cannot allow these warmongers to go on," Juppe said. "We cannot let
international law and morality be flouted."
The United States joined the resolution's initial supporters — Britain,
France and Lebanon — not only in pushing for a speedy vote but also in pressing
for action beyond creation of a no-fly zone to protect civilians from air, land
and sea attacks by Gadhafi's fighters.
It was an abrupt switch by the Obama administration following weeks of
hesitation amid worries that the United States could get sucked into another war
in a Muslim nation.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters in Tunisia on Thursday
that a U.N. no-fly zone over Libya would require action to protect the planes
and pilots, "including bombing targets like the Libyan defense systems," but no
ground intervention is considered.
Explaining his abstention on the vote, Germany's U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig
said his country backed increased sanctions against Libya in an effort to force
Gadhafi from power, but "we see the danger of being drawn into a protracted
military conflict."
India's deputy ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri said his country abstained
because the resolution authorizes "far reaching measures ... with relatively
little credible information on the situation on the ground in Libya."
The resolution also calls for stronger enforcement of the U.N. arms embargo
imposed last month, adds names of individuals, companies and other entities to
the list of those subject to travel bans and asset freezes, and requires all
countries to ban Libyan flights.
___
Associated Press Writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, David Espo
in Washington and Jamey Keaten in Paris contributed to this report.
