UN votes to end Libya military mandate

The UN Security Council yesterday unanimously voted to end the mandate for international military action in Libya, ending another chapter in the war against Muammar Gaddafi's regime. NATO, which carried out the air strikes that played a key role in the downfall of Gaddafi, says it is studying new ways to help the National Transitional Council which had asked for an extension to the mandate.

A Security Council resolution ordered the end of the authorization for a no-fly zone and action to protect civilians from 11:59 pm Libyan time (2159 GMT) on October 31.

Following the vote, NATO's decision-making body, the North Atlantic Council, is to meet today in Brussels to formally declare an end to its seven-month-old air war.

Security Council Resolution 2016 also eased an international arms embargo so that the NTC can acquire weapons and equipment for its national security.

It ended an assets freeze on the Libyan National Oil Corporation and virtually all restrictions on the central bank and other key institutions. It completely ended the ban on international flights by Libyan registered planes.

The NTC declared the formal "liberation" of Libya on October 23, three days after the killing of Gaddafi. But interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil on Wednesday urged NATO to extend its campaign until the end of the year because of the continuing threat from Gaddafi loyalists.

Security Council resolutions passed in February and March which approved a no-fly zone have caused divisions on the 15-nation body ever since.

Russia, China, South Africa, Brazil and India accused NATO of going beyond the mandate with the air strikes against Gaddafi targets. The NATO allies insist they stayed within the "all necessary means" provision laid down to protect civilians.

Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said an extension past October 31 would be "unrealistic." South Africa was also opposed to any flexibility. South Africa's UN envoy Baso Sangqu said he wanted the mission ended "yesterday."

Without mentioning the death of Gaddafi, the 15-member Security Council expressed "grave concern" however over "reprisals, arbitrary detentions, wrongful imprisonment and extra-judicial executions in Libya."

It called for "respect for human rights and the rule of law" and for Libyan authorities "to refrain from reprisals."

The resolution also stressed the interim government's responsibility to protect foreign nationals and African migrants.