News / Africa

France: No-Fly Zone Over Libya - Only With UN Approval

People crossing the Libya-Egypt border (file photo)
People crossing the Libya-Egypt border (file photo)
TEXT SIZE - +

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Tuesday there should not be any international intervention into the bloody upheaval in Libya without prior approval from the United Nations.

Juppe told lawmakers that as of Tuesday no military intervention, including the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya, was planned.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday ruled out the idea of a no-fly zone over Libya, calling the suggestion "superfluous."

French government spokesman Francois Baroin said humanitarian aid, not military action, should be the way to deal with the violence in Libya.

The remarks Tuesday come as the United States is urging stronger international action against Tripoli, where fighting continues over the ouster of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Washington said Monday it is moving military ships and aircraft closer to Libya, while Britain has been pushing for a no-fly zone over the North African country.

France on Tuesday sent two planes carrying medical equipment and staff to eastern Libya, an area controlled by rebels.

Baroin says the priority is humanitarian aid for the thousands of people affected by the violence in the Libyan uprising and Mr. Gadhafi's brutal response.  He described the Libyan leader as unbalanced.

EU leaders have proposed an emergency summit on March 11 to discuss additional responses to the Libyan crisis. For now, the European Union has announced an arms embargo and visa ban against Tripoli.

You May Like

South Africa to Host World's Biggest Telescope

South Africa competed against Australia to host the telescope, the final decision was to split the SKA between the two countries More

Report: Global Warming Could Reverse Development

World Bank study says warmer climates threaten advances and could exacerbate poverty in world’s poorest regions More

Video Inmates Fight Fires, Gain Skills for Life After Prison

In California, physically fit inmates with no history of violent crimes can train, work as firefighters while serving their time More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Human Rights Film Festival Highlights Gender, Economic Issues

Twenty new films from around the world are screening in New York this week, as part of the 24th annual Human Rights Watch Film Festival, co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and IFC Center. The issues explored range from the rights of women, gays and the disabled, to economic justice, to political murder, torture and wrongful imprisonment. VOA’s Carolyn Weaver reports from New York.