BICOM

The United Nations Security Council yesterday voted to authorise military strikes against Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s forces. The resolution calls for an immediate establishment of a ceasefire and a complete end to a violence and abuse of civilians. The resolution stipulates that all member states, upon notification of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa, can “take all necessary measures…to protect civilians and civilian populated areas, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.”

The resolution includes the enforcement of a no-fly zone to protest civilians, as well as an arms embargo banning all international flights by Libyan owned aircrafts. The resolution also freezes the assets of individuals and state owned Libyan companies. The resolution was strongly backed by France, the United Kingdom and Lebanon, and ten other countries voted in favour. Russia, China, Germany, India and Brazil abstained. “The future of Libya should be decided by the people of Libya,” US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said yesterday to the Security Council. “The United States stands with the Libyan people in support of their universal rights.”