Despite repeated talk about the possible establishment of a
U.N.-authorized no fly zone, Britain, France and the United States have yet to
table a no-fly resolution in the U.N. Security Council. The caution reflects
reservations over the plan in Washington, D.C. and African and Arab capitals
and the reluctance of Western powers to intervene in the Libyan crisis without
broad regional backing.
On Monday, Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague
outlined three requirements for the imposition of a no-fly zone: there must be
a clear trigger, possible a bloody crackdown on civilians; there must regional
support from African and Arab governments; and there must be
a legal basis for pressing ahead. (It was unclear whether today's reports of civilians casualties, including women and children, in Zawiyah would constitute such a trigger.)
Many council members believe a Security Council vote is
legally required for the creation of a no-fly-zone. But Britain, France and the
United States have previously enforced a no-fly zone over Iraq without Security
Council approval, citing the overwhelming humanitarian demands of intervening
to protect civilians.
For the time being, Britain and France, who have taken the
lead in negotiating the draft resolution establishing a no fly zone, are
expected to await the outcome of high-level meetings of the Arab League and the
African Union later this week before deciding to introduce their draft to the 15-nation
council.
Still, in a closed-door session of the council this morning,
Britain and France sought to prod the council into preparing for action, saying
that a week old resolution calling for an end to government violence has not
succeeded.
Britain's U.N. ambassador Mark Lyall-Grant expressed
concern about the "risk of a civil war" in Libya and said the council needs to
"consider further steps" to rein in Col. Moammar Qadaffi's government,"
council sources told Turtle Bay.
France's U.N. ambassador Gerard Araud said the council needs to
consider "all options, including a no fly zone," according to the sources, who
provided a detailed account of the meeting.
Susan E. Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United
Nations, meanwhile, took a slightly more cautious approach, saying that while the council may have to consider range of options, including "strengthening
sanctions...no one option is the silver bullet." Germany's U.N. ambassador, Peter Wittig, also raised the prospect of tightening sanctions, proposing possible new restrictions on the Libyan financial sector.
The council's other members, including China and Russia,
pushed back, saying it is too early to consider stepping up pressure on
Qaddafi's regime. Libyans, they argue, should sort out their own problems. Brazil's
U.N. ambassador, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti said that it was not the
right time to consider further "coercive measures" against Libya.
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