21 February 2011 - Libyan deputy Permanent Representative to U.N. Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi "[called] on the U.N. to impose a no-fly zone on all Tripoli to cut off all supplies of arms and mercenaries to the regime."
28 February 2011 - British Prime Minister David Cameron proposed the idea of a no-fly zone to prevent Gaddafi from "airlifting mercenaries" and "using his military aeroplanes and armoured helicopters against civilians."
7 March 2011 - U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder announced that NATO decided to step up surveillance missions of E-3 AWACS aircraft to 24 hours a day. On the same day it was reported that an anonymous U.N. diplomat confirmed to Agence France Presse that France and Britain were drawing up a resolution on the no-fly zone that would be considered by the United Nations Security Council during the same week.The Gulf Cooperation Council also on that day called upon the U.N. Security Council to "take all necessary measures to protect civilians, including enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya."
US Supports No-Fly Zone Against Libya.ogv
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VOA News report on the United States support of the no-fly zone
9 March 2011 - The head of the Libyan National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, "pleaded for the international community to move quickly to impose a no-fly zone over Libya, declaring that any delay would result in more casualties".Three days later, he stated that if pro-Gaddafi forces reached Benghazi, then they would kill "half a million" people. He stated, "If there is no no-fly zone imposed on Gaddafi's regime, and his ships are not checked, we will have a catastrophe in Libya."
On 12 March, thousands of Libyan women marched in the streets of the rebel-held town of Benghazi, calling for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.
9 March 2011 - The United States had naval forces positioned off the coast of Libya, as well as forces already in the region - including the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Canada had dispatched naval frigate HMCS Charlottetown to the area, reinforcing the display of western power. Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay stated, "We are there for all inevitabilities. And NATO is looking at this as well... This is taken as a precautionary and staged measure." Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that the Canadian Forces Air Command is ready to contribute to setting up a no-fly zone if the U.N. and NATO decided to do this.
12 March 2011 - The Arab League "called on the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya in a bid to protect civilians from air attack".The Arab League's request was announced by Oman's Foreign minister, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, who stated that all member states present at the meeting agreed with the proposal.
15 March 2011 - A resolution for a no-fly zone was proposed and tabled by Nawaf Salam, Lebanon's Ambassador to the United Nations. The resolution was immediately backed by the United Kingdom and France.
17 March 2011 - The United Nations Security Council, acting under the authority of Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, approved a no-fly zone by a vote of 10 in favour, zero against, and five abstentions, via United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. The five abstensions were: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and Germany.Less than 24 hours later, Libya announced that it will halt all military operations in the country in response to the Security Council resolution.
18 March 2011 - The Libyan foreign minister, Mussa Kussa, said he has declared a ceasefire, attributing the U.N. resolution.However, artillery shelling on Misurata and Ajdabiya continued, and government soldiers continued approaching Benghazi.Government troops and tanks entered the city on 19 March.Artillery and mortars were also fired into the city.
19 March 2011 - Forces from many nations intervened militarily in Libya in support of an armed uprising and to enforce a no-fly zone established over Libyan airspace by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 on 17 March 2011.The no-fly zone was proposed to prevent government forces from carrying out air attacks on rebels.
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