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.

Representatives vote during an open meeting of the UN Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, March 17, 2011. 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. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The resolution was
adopted with 10 voting in favor and five abstentions. Under the UN Charter, the
adoption requires nine yes 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, and Brazil, Germany and India, the three
non- permanent Council members, 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 enforcement of the no-fly zone was
endorsed by the Arab League in its decision at the end of the March 12 meeting
on the situation of Libya.

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

Also present at the Council meeting were
UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, representing UN Secretary- General
Ban Ki-moon who is on his visit to Guatamala, and French Foreign Minister Alain
Juppe, who just flew to New York on Thursday for the Council meeting.

The Security Council authorized the UN
member states “to take all necessary measures” to “protect civilians and
civilians populated areas under threat of attack” in Libya, “including
Benghazi,” a key eastern city currently held by the rebels, the resolution said.

The member states can act “nationally or
through regional organizations or arrangements” in taking these measures, the
resolution said.

The Security Council “requests the member
states concerned to inform the (UN) secretary-general immediately of the
measures they take” and this “shall be immediately reported to the Security
Council,” the resolution said.

The Security Council “recognizes the
important role of the League of Arab States in matters relating to the
maintenance of international peace and security in the region,” the resolution
said.

The Security Council “calls upon all
member states, acting nationally or through regional authorizations or
arrangements, to provide assistance, including any necessary overflight
approvals, for the purposes of implementing” the new UN document, the resolution
said.

The Security Council reiterated “the
responsibility of the Libyan authorities to protect the Libyan population” and
reaffirmed that “parties to armed conflicts bear the primary responsibility to
take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians,” said the
resolution.

The Security Council expressed “its
determination to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian populated areas
and the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance and the safety of
humanitarian personnel,” the resolution said.

The Security Council deplored “the
continuing use of mercenaries by the Libyan authorities,” the resolution said.

Meanwhile, the resolution also stepped
up sanctions against Libya, including a strengthened arms embargo and assets
freeze, imposed by Resolution 1970 which was unanimously adopted by the Security
Council last month.

The Security Council decided that the
asset freeze, imposed by Resolution 1970, “shall apply to all funds, other
financial assets and economic resources which are on their territories, which
are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Libyan authorities,” the
resolution said.

The assets of the Central Bank of Libya
and the Libyan National Oil Company are to be frozen according to the
resolution.

The Security Council affirmed that the
assets frozen in accordance with relevant UN resolutions “shall be made
available as soon as possible to and for the benefit of the Libyan people,” the
resolution said.

The resolution expressed “grave resolution
at the deteriorating situation, the escalation of violence, and the heavy
civilian casualties.”

The Security Council condemned “the gross
and systematic violation of human rights, including arbitrary detentions,
enforced disappearances and summary executions,” the resolution said.

The Security Council further condemned
“acts of violence and intimidation committed by the Libyan authorities against
journalists, media professionals and associated personnel” and urged the Libyan
authorities “to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian
law.”

The resolution also requested the
secretary-general “to create for an initial period of one year” a group of up to
eight experts to assist the Security Council’s Libya sanctions committee “in
carrying out its mandate.”

The proposed panel is also requested to
“gather, examine and Analyze information from States, relevant United Nations
bodies, regional organizations and other interested parties” regarding the
implementations relevant UN resolutions, the resolution said.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet