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France: No-Fly Zone Over Libya - Only With UN Approval

   Diaa Bekheet  March 01, 2011

Photo: AP

   French  Foreign  Minister Alain Juppe said Tuesday there should not be
   any  international  intervention  into  the  bloody  upheaval in Libya
   without prior approval from the United Nations.
   Juppe  told  lawmakers  that  as  of Tuesday no military intervention,
   including the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya, was planned.
   Russia's  Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday ruled out the idea
   of a no-fly zone over Libya, calling the suggestion "superfluous."
   French government spokesman Francois Baroin said humanitarian aid, not
   military action, should be the way to deal with the violence in Libya.
   The  remarks  Tuesday  come  as  the  United States is urging stronger
   international  action  against  Tripoli, where fighting continues over
   the ouster of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
   Washington said Monday it is moving military ships and aircraft closer
   to  Libya,  while  Britain has been pushing for a no-fly zone over the
   North African country.
   France on Tuesday sent two planes carrying medical equipment and staff
   to eastern Libya, an area controlled by rebels.
   Baroin  says  the  priority  is  humanitarian aid for the thousands of
   people  affected  by  the  violence  in  the  Libyan  uprising and Mr.