Watching Libya March 12/13, 2011

Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo yesterday (Saturday, March 12) called on the UN Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.  Youssef Ben Alawi, Oman’s Foreign Minister, told a press conference after the meeting that "all Arab states supported the call for a No-fly zone." He emphasised that the Arab League remains "opposed to any foreign intervention" and that a no-fly zone "must end with the end of that crisis." Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, speaking at the same press conference, said that the decision was intended to "protect the Libyan people."  The Arab League, he announced, had also decided to "open channels of communication" with the Benghazi-based Libyan rebel National Council.

The White House welcomed the Arab League's call for a No-fly zone over Libya as an "important step". "The international community”, it said, “is unified in sending a clear message that the violence in Libya must stop, and that the Gheddafi regime must be held accountable”. “The United States will continue to advance our efforts to pressure Gheddafi, to support the Libyan opposition, and to prepare for all contingencies, in close coordination with our international partners."

The official position of the US so far continues to be that outlined by President Obama on March 3: "... we will continue to send a clear message: the violence must stop; Muammar Gheddafi has lost the legitimacy to lead and he must leave; those who perpetrate violence against the Libyan people will be held accountable; and the aspirations of the Libyan people for freedom, democracy and dignity must be met." ( http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/03/03/president-libya-violence-must-stop-muammar-gaddafi-has-lost-legitimacy-lead-and-he-m )

A spokesperson for the the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said yesterday that the Arab League’s resolution “provides important regional support to the option of creating a no-fly zone.”  Here is his whole statement: "The outcome of today's Arab League meeting shows Gheddafi's actions do not have support in the region. In brutally repressing a popular uprising by his own people, it is clear he is isolated and ignoring the will of the international community. We welcome the Arab League’s decision to make contact with the Interim National Council. We regard the Interim National Council as valid interlocutors with whom we should work closely. No-fly zones are one option being considered as part of international contingency planning to respond quickly to events on the ground as they develop. This planning does not pre-judge any particular outcome. The Arab League call for a No-fly zone is very significant and provides important regional support to the option of creating a No-fly zone." 
( http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=564631882 )

The Arab League (الجامعة العربية‎) currently has 22 members and four observers. The main goal of the league is to "draw closer the relations between member states and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries.” On February 22, the League suspended the participation of Libyan delegations in all sessions of the League. Libya is the first country to have its membership in the League frozen.
( http://www.arableagueonline.org/ )

Meanwhile Gheddafi’s forces continue to hit hard at the rebels in an attempt to dislodge them. General Abdel-Fattah Younis – minister of the interior before joining the rebels – admitted that the regime’s forces have retaken Ras Lanuf, including its oil facilities. Forces loyal to Gheddafi are also besieging Misratah, 130 km east of Tripoli. Al Arabiya has, however, reported that the Hamza battalion – considered to have been very loyal to Gheddafi – has joined the opposition outside Misratah and immediately engaged in fighting the Khameis battalion alongside which it had been attacking the rebels in the town.