U.N. approves Libya no-fly zone

• Moving swiftly in response to a request by Arab nations, the U.N. Security Council on Thursday paved the way for international air strikes against Muammar Qadhafi's forces with its vote authorizing military action to protect civilians and a no-fly zone over Libya.
• The council acted five days after the Arab League urged the U.N.'s most powerful body to try to halt Qadhafi's advancing military and reverse the realities on the ground, where rebels and their civilian supporters are in danger of being crushed by pro-government forces using rockets, artillery, tanks and warplanes.
• The vote was 10-0 with five countries abstaining including Russia and China, which have veto power in the council, along with India, Germany and Brazil. Russia and China expressed concern about the United Nations and other outside powers using force against Qadhafi, and Germany expressed fear that military action would lead to more casualties.
• The United States - which in a dramatic reversal joined the resolution's initial supporters Britain, France and Lebanon - not only helped push for a quick vote but pressed for action beyond creation of a no-fly zone to protect civilians from air, land and sea attacks by Qadhafi's fighters.
• The resolution bans all flights in Libya's airspace to help protect civilians. It also authorizes U.N. member states to take "all necessary measures ... to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory."
• British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the three criteria for taking action - a demonstrated need, clear legal basis and broad regional support - all have been fulfilled.
• In an interview broadcast just before the vote, Qadhafi said, "The U.N. Security Council has no mandate. We don't acknowledge their resolutions." He pledged to respond harshly to U.N.-sponsored attacks. "If the world is crazy, we will be crazy too," he told the Portuguese public Radiotelevisao Portuguesa.
• The resolution also calls for stronger enforcement of the arms embargo, adds names of people, companies and other entities to the list of those subject to travel bans and asset freezes, and requires all countries to ban Libyan flights from landing, taking off or overflying their country.
• It also demands that Libya ensure the "rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance" and asks U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to establish an eight-member panel of experts to assist the Security Council committee in monitoring sanctions.