The UN Security Council has declared a no-fly zone over Libya to reduce bombing of opposition cities and save the local population, RIA Novosti reports.
A corresponding resolution was passed, which also freezes the accounts of the Libyan oil company and its central bank.
Resolution N1973 was initiated by Lebanon, the UK, France and the USA and needed three days of talks. 10 of the 15 UN SC members voted for the resolution, with Russia, China and Germany abstaining. The resolution needed 9 votes.
The UN SC resolution demands a ceasefire and the cessation of violence and attacks on Libyan civilians. The UN called for all measures, except foreign occupation of Libya or any of its part. Special attention was paid to cooperation with the League of Arab States.
The no-fly zone in Libya does not concern planes delivering humanitarian cargo, medication, food or evacuating foreign citizens from Libya.
The resolution provides that no Libyan aircraft are allowed to lift, land or be used as air transport, unless they were permitted by the SC Committee for Sanctions.
US President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nikolas Sarkozy concluded that Gaddafi must stop the violence and agreed to coordinate all further actions.
Italy may provide its military bases for fulfilment of the UN resolution.
Russia abstained from voting for the UN SC resolution, as such a measure may lead to mass intervention and civilian casualties, Russian representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin said. A set of clear and explicable issues on supporting the no-fly zone and the rules and limits of using force remained neglected, Churkin noted.
Moreover, the diplomat added that the resolution project was undergoing rapid changes, abandoning the concept of the League of Arab States.
Churkin emphasized that the resolution will not provide security for the peaceful population or long-term stability in Libya.
Germany also considers the resolution to be risky.
The disorders in Libya started in mid-February. Citizens are demanding that Muammar Gaddafi, who has been in power for over 40 years, resign. International organizations say that thousands have been killed.
Gaddafi says that his army is fighting against bandits terrorizing the population.
A UN SC resolution was passed against the Libyan authorities on February 26. Measures were taken to stop suppression of the opposition in Libya. The sanctions include an embargo on arms trading with Libya, freezing of its accounts and a ban on Gaddafi and his family’s visits to foreign states.
