THE UN Security Council last night voted to authorise a no-fly zone over Libya and “all necessary measures” to protect civilians against leader Muammar Gadafy’s forces, handing a lifeline to rebels on a day when Col Gadafy said there would be no mercy for those who failed to lay down their arms.
The news of the resolution was greeted by celebrations among rebels and the crackle of gunfire. Ten of the council’s 15 member states voted in favour of the resolution, with Russia, China and Germany among the five that abstained.
Earlier Col Gadafy warned that his forces were poised to reach the rebel-held city of Benghazi last night. “We are coming tonight . . . there won’t be any mercy,” Col Gadafy told Benghazi residents in a radio address, adding that they had nothing to fear if they laid down their weapons.
It was impossible to reach people in the city last night as phone lines were down but TV footage showed thousands gathering in the streets to show their defiance as Gadafy spoke.
A rebel spokesman reported three airstrikes by regime forces on the outskirts of Benghazi yesterday, including at the airport, and another air raid farther south. Libya’s defence ministry had earlier warned of swift retaliation if the security council approved military action.
“Any foreign military act against Libya will expose all air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean sea to danger and civilian and military ‘facilities’ will become targets of Libya’s counterattack,” the ministry said in a statement.
The wording of the UN resolution, specifically “all necessary measures”, held open the possibility of airstrikes to defend Benghazi.