DUSHANBE, March 9, 2011, Asia-Plus — International calls are growing for a no-fly zone over Libya, international media outlets report.
According to Reuters, rising casualties and threats of hunger and a refugee crisis have increased pressure on foreign governments to act, but many were fearful of moving from sanctions alone to military action.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has noted that any decision to impose a no-fly zone over Libya should be made by the UN and not by Washington. Mrs. Clinton said it was important such a move came from the Libyan people, rather than being a US-led effort.
Calls for military intervention are growing as pro-Gaddafi forces bombard areas held by Libyan rebels.
Mrs. Clinton reiterated her government”s call for Col Gaddafi to step down peacefully, but warned that the crisis in Libya could be protracted.
Meanwhile, Colonel Gaddafi has made a defiant speech on Libyan TV, labeling rebels and opposition leaders traitors, the BBC reports. Addressing a room full of cheering supporters he again claimed that the rebels had been brainwashed by al-Qaeda.
The rebel forces are fighting to end Colonel Gaddafi”s 41 years in power, and more than 1,000 people are believed to have died. Some 200,000 others have been displaced by the fighting.
The BBC says US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron discussed a possible no-fly zone on Tuesday, but both countries maintain that any intervention must have wide international support.
A White House statement said the two leaders discussed a “full spectrum of possible responses” in their telephone call.
It is believed other options include more surveillance, humanitarian help and the enforcement of an arms embargo on Libya.
Mr. Cameron told the BBC: “We have got to prepare for what we might have to do if he (Gaddafi) goes on brutalizing his own people.”
The UK and France are working on a UN Security Council resolution for a no-fly zone, however Russia has already stated its opposition to military intervention, according to the BBC.
NATO defense ministers will discuss options for Libya on Thursday and Friday.
Calls for a no-fly zone have also come from the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which represents Muslim countries, and Gulf Arab states.
Reuters reports that representatives of the Libyan opposition met EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Strasbourg and planned to speak at the European Parliament on Wednesday.
Mahmoud Jebril, head of the crisis committee of the National Libyan Council, said the EU should recognize the council as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
EU states agreed to add the $70 billion Libyan Investment Authority to a sanctions list on Tuesday. The embargo already covers 26 Libyans including Gaddafi and his family, according to Reuters.
