Arab League Backs No-Fly Zone Over Wartorn Libya

Amr Moussa

Special to the NNPA from the Global Information Network

Punishing air strikes and fierce shelling from forces loyal to embattled Libyan president Muammar Gaddafi have roused the Arab League to speak up in favor of a no-fly zone to put the deadly warplanes out of commission.

Arab states must intervene in Libya or risk unwanted foreign intervention, Oman's foreign minister told an Arab League meeting.

"What is needed now is Arab intervention using mechanisms of the Arab League and at the same time in accordance with international law," Omani Foreign Minister Youssef bin Alawi bin Abdullah said in his opening remarks to an Arab League meeting.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, a candidate for the Egyptian presidency, called for a no-fly zone to help the Libyan people "in their struggle for freedom against an increasingly inhuman regime."

The decision was adopted by nine of the 11 foreign ministers attending the meeting, from which Mr Gaddafi's envoys were excluded.  Algeria and Syria voted against.

The 22-member organization also decided to make contact with the rebels' provisional national council, in moves welcomed by the United States and Britain.

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