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Libya could be hit with UN-sanctioned airstrikes as early as Friday

RIA Novosti

08:48 18/03/2011 WASHINGTON, March 18 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday called the British and French leaders and agreed that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi must immediately end hostilities toward the Libyan people or face military intervention.

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution on Libya that imposes a no-fly zone over the African state and authorizes possible military action except for ground forces. It also freezes assets of Libyan oil companies and the country's Central Bank.

Obama called French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron after the UN resolution was approved that will not only impose a no-fly zone, but also protect civilians and bring to a halt Gaddafi's military from any further hostilities.

"The leaders agreed that Libya must immediately comply with all terms of the resolution and that violence against the civilian population of Libya must cease," the White House said in a statement late on Thursday.

"The leaders agreed to coordinate closely on next steps, and to continue working with Arab and other international partners to ensure the enforcement of UN Security Council resolutions on Libya," the statement read.

The UN resolution was initiated by Lebanon, Great Britain, France and the United States and was deliberated for three days. Ten of the fifteen members of the UN Security Council voted in favor of the resolution and the remaining five members abstained (Russia, China, Germany, India, and Brazil).

Russia's envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said preparations for the vote were "not in line with the existing Security Council practices," but Russia did not veto the resolution, acting in accordance with basic UN principles, which urge protection of civilians.

France, the United Kingdom, Qatar and the U.A.E. may carry out airstrikes on forces of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi early on Friday, just hours after the Security Council vote. A British government source earlier said that British forces could be in action over Libya as early as Friday.

Libya warned on Thursday that any foreign military intervention would put air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean area under threat, as it would hit both civilian and military targets.

Mass riots demanding the end of the regime of the country's strongman, Muammar Gaddafi, have been raging in Libya since mid-February. On Thursday, Gaddafi said the confrontation between authorities and the rebellious opposition would end very soon.