UN Security Council Okays No-fly Zone Over Libya

The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya and called for "all necessary measures," excluding troops on the ground, to protect civilians under threat of attack in the North African country.

The resolution was adopted with 10 voting in favor and five abstentions. Under the UN Charter, the adoption requires nine votes from the 15 Council members and the absence of a negative vote by any of the five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

China and Russia, the two permanent members with veto power on the Council, abstained from the voting on the draft resolution, which was presented by France, Lebanon, Britain and the United States. Lebanon is one of the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council.

The Security Council "decides to establish a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to protect civilians," the resolution said.

However, the resolution excluded "an occupation force" in Libya.

The resolution "demands the immediate establishment of a ceasefire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against, and abuses of, civilians."

The resolution also stepped up sanctions against Libya, including a freezing of assets of the Central Bank of Libya and the Libyan National Oil Company.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2011)