European Forum

U.N. authorises no-fly zone Libya, Gadaffi announces "immediate ceasefire"

On 18 March Libya has called for a cease-fire and a halt to military action in response to the decision of the U.N. Security Council to authorize the use of force to protect civilians in the country.

Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa, speaking to reporters in Tripoli, said that in light of its membership in the United Nations, the country is "obliged to accept the Security Council resolution that permits the use of force to protect the civilian population."

"Therefore, Libya has decided an immediate ceasefire and the stoppage of all military operations," Koussa said.

Commenting on the statements of Koussa, the UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron said that the international community will judge Gaddafi's government by "his actions not his words".

U.N. resolution
In the evening of 17 March, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution authorising a no-fly zone over Libya. The resolution also allows “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from attacks by forces of Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi. However, the resolution rules out sending foreign ground troops to the country.

The resolution was initiated by the UK, France and Lebanon following the violent crackdown of anti government protests. In the end, ten of the fifteen council members voted in favour of the resolution. Russia, China, Germany, Brazil and India abstained.

In Benghazi, the main opposition stronghold, a large crowd watching the vote on an outdoor TV projection burst into celebration and green and red fireworks filled the air as the resolution was announced.

Rapid action
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the adoption of the resolution and called it a "historic decision." He said he expects council members to act "immediately" on the resolution's provisions.

The morning after the vote France said that military action in Libya would come "rapidly ... within a few hours", but did not specify the targets or in what form the action would come.

The UK prime minister, said a surveillance and re-fuelling aircraft would be deployed for the operation in Libya. "Preparations to deploy these aircraft have already started and in the coming hours they will move to airbases from where they can start to take the necessary action," he told the British parliament.

After the announcement on the resolution, Gaddafi reportedly threatened to "turn into hell the lives" of anyone who attacks his country.

Sceptical attitude towards the use of force
The five council members that abstained from the vote have expressed some scepticism toward the provision for the use of force during the last weeks. However in the end all of them decided to abstain and Russia and China decided not to use their power to veto.

Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin said his country was worried about humanitarian consequences.

China also expressed some reservation the day after the vote. Spokeswomen for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jiang Yu stated "We oppose the use of armed force in international relations and we have serious reservations about some of the content of the resolution".

In a statement, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said, "We are still very sceptical about the option of a military intervention in Libya also contained in the resolution. We see considerable risks in this. Therefore, we cannot subscribe to this part of the resolution. German soldiers will not participate in a military action in Libya."

From the first debate on the council it was clear that although members disagreed on some points, Gaddafi enjoyed no support and that all members were convinced he must leave.

Libya has been in the grip of turmoil since anti-Gaddafi protests began more than one month ago. The demonstrations seem to have been ignited by the wave of protests in the Middle East, all fuelled by discontent over unemployment, rising living costs, corruption and autocratic leaderships.

For the latest information visit Libya Live Blog

Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, Volkskrant (Dutch), RFE/RL
Photo: Flickr - B.R.Q.