TRIPOLI - Libya declared a ceasefire in the country to protect civilians and comply with a
United Nations resolution passed overnight, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa said on Friday.
"We decided on an immediate ceasefire and on an immediate stop to all military operations," he told reporters. "Libya takes great interest in protecting civilians," he said, adding that the country would also protect all foreigners and foreign assets in Libya.
RELATED:UN Security Council authorizes military strikes on LibyaLibya: At least 30 dead as rebels try to halt Benghazi pushUS: UN should consider more than Libya no-fly zoneThe announcement comes despite Saif al-Islam, one of Muammar Gaddafi's sons, saying earlier Friday that Libya is not afraid of the UN resolution
authorizing military strikes to protect Libyan civilians, Al Arabiya
television reported. Al Arabiya did not say where or when he made the
remark.
Moments before the ceasefire was announced, British Prime Minister David Cameron said that
Britain will imminently start moving fighter jets to bases from where they can help enforce a no fly zone over Libya.
Cameron, who said British forces would join the UN-sponsored operation if Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi failed to stop attacks on civilians, said the international community would soon set out what it expected from Gaddafi.
The United Nations Security Council voted Thursday to
authorize military force against Gadhafi’s
forces.
“Today the Security Council has responded to the Libyan
people's cry for help,” US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said. “This
Council's purpose is clear: to protect innocent civilians.”
France and Norway announced Friday that they will join the international military action against Gaddafi's forces.
French government spokesman Francois Baroin said on Friday that "The French, who led the calls [for action], will of course be consistent with military intervention." Asked to specify what that meant, he said "they will participate" in operations.
The UN resolution demands the "immediate establishment of a cease-fire and a complete end to violence and all attacks, and abuses, of civilians." The resolution stipulates that member states, upon notification to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, 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 Security Council’s authorization of the use of force also includes
the enforcement of a no-fly zone to protect civilians, as well as an
enforcement of the arms embargo, banning all international flights by
Libyan owned or operated aircraft. The resolution also freezes the
assets of certain individuals and five entities including critical
state-owned Libyan companies. A newly established Libyan Sanctions
Committee is empowered by the resolution to impose
sanctions on those who violate the arms embargo, including by providing Gadhafi with mercenaries.
“The future of Libya should be decided by the people of Libya,” Rice
said in her remarks to the Security Council. “The United States stands
with the Libyan people in support of their universal rights.”
The resolution was backed strongly by France, the United Kingdom and
Lebanon. Ten countries voted in favor of the resolution. Russia, China,
Germany, India and Brazil abstained.