Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi Soft-Pedals As UN Okays No Fly Zone

[TGD]

[attachimg=1] Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, made a quick turn on his current offensive against his nationals pushing for his exit from power moments after the United Nations (UN) authorized a "no fly zone and all necessary measures" to prevent the government from striking at defenseless civilians."

Gaddafi declared an immediate ceasefire and promised to stop military operations in a bid to avert international military intervention following the UN's action.

Nigeria, which joined the United States, and other members of the Security Council to pass the "no-fly zone" resolution against Tripoli, said its action was informed by the magnitude of humanitarian disaster in the North African country.

While Nigeria joined the US, UK, France, and others to support the resolutions, five Council members, including China and Russia, permanent members abstained alongside Brazil, Germany and India. China and Russia could have voted against the resolution using their veto powers, but they decided to merely abstain from voting.

Acting on the 7th Chapter of the UN Charter, which provides for the use of force if needed, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution by 10 votes to zero, with the five abstentions, and therefore authorized member states "to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahariya, including Benghazi, while excluding an occupation force."

Immediately, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa announced a ceasefire after a fierce attack by Gaddafi's forces against Misrata, the last rebel-held city in the western half of the country. A doctor said at least six people were killed.

The U.N. Security Council resolution, which was passed late Thursday after weeks of deliberation, set the stage for air strikes, a no-fly zone and other military measures short of a ground invasion.

Britain announced that it would send fighter jets and France was making plans to deploy planes, but the US was yet to announce what its role would be. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) followed suit with an emergency meeting.

Koussa said the government would cease hostility in line with the resolution, although he criticized the authorization of international military action, calling it a violation of Libya's sovereignty.

"The government is opening channels for true, serious dialogue with all parties," he said during a news conference in Tripoli, the capital.

The Libyan government closed its airspace to all traffic yesterday, according to Europe's air traffic control agency, Eurocontrol.

Government tanks rolled into Misrata, 125 miles (200 kilometres) southeast of Tripoli, early yesterday, shelling houses, hospitals and a mosque for several hours before pulling back to the city's outskirts, witnesses said.

"They haven't stopped shelling us for a week now, we sleep to shelling, and wake up to shelling. They are targeting houses and hospitals," a witness said, adding the hospital had been overwhelmed.

In a statement after the vote, Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, said the Federal Government declared that "the current state of affairs leaves an indelible imprint on the conscience and moves us to act. The magnitude of this humanitarian disaster is, indeed, what compelled Nigeria to vote in favour of this resolution."

Besides, the Libyan authorities have continued to violate the terms of the previous UN resolution and fundamental principles of international law, she said.

Observing that many of the population now in dire humanitarian situation in Libya are Nigerians, Ogwu said Nigeria's persistent call for peace is rooted in the need to ensure the safety, dignity and availability of humanitarian assistance for a population in need, "many of whom are Nigerian nationals."

She said the "emphasis of the resolution on the protection of civilians under threat of attack and the provisions for humanitarian assistance do much to address these concerns."

However the Nigerian ambassador insisted that Nigeria, in line with the African Union and Arab league believes "that foreign occupation is not an option to secure peace in Libya."

The government submitted that it was guided by "an overriding determination to respect the unity and territorial integrity of Libya," and by the fact that the political path to conflict resolution is supported in the resolution, underscoring as it does the efforts of the African Union High Level Committee, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy and other interlocutors.

Ogwu's statement added that "the resolution we have just adopted was necessitated by the persistently grave and dire situation in Libya.  Notwithstanding the clear expression of our common will and the comprehensive measures instituted under Resolution 1970, the Libyan authorities have continued to violate the terms of the resolution and fundamental principles of international law."

Source: Libya Soft-Pedals As UN Okays No Fly Zone