The UN Security Council is meeting later this week to discuss whether the current military action in Libya is in accordance with its resolution on the issue. India's envoy to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri said, the Council will also discuss whether armed rebels are regarded as civilians under the resolution. External Affairs Ministry sources said in New Delhi, there will be a substantive discussion to look at the text of resolution number 1973 and then see whether this is compliance or less or more. The 15-member body had rejected a request by Libya on Monday to convene an emergency meeting to halt what the country's Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa described as military aggression by the US and France. Last week, the Security Council adopted a resolution drafted by Britain and France, authorising military intervention in the country to enforce a no-fly zone. India, China, Russia, Brazil and Germany abstained from voting on the resolution. The resolution was co-authored by Britain and France. Meanwhile, India on Tuesday said no external power should interfere in the internal affairs of any other country. Responding to the concerns of the members on the situation in Libya, the Leader of the House Mr. Pranab Mukherjee said that government has already made its stand clear on the issue. India has regretted the air strikes and called upon all parties to abjure violence. New Delhi has also pleaded that the need of the hour is cessation of armed conflict in that country Earlier, Political parties cutting across party lines urged the Lok Sabha to adopt a unanimous resolution deploring what they called brutal attacks on Libya. The left leader Basudev Acharia and Gurudas Dasgupta was joined by Samajwadi Party and other members in condemning the US led strikes in Libya. Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav of SP, Mr. Sharad Yadav of JD(U) Yashwant Sinha of BJP and Shariefuddin Shariq were among those who spoke on the issue. Mr. Shariq hailed Indian stand on the situation. Some more members who also spoke on the issue, strongly criticized the Western policy on Libya.
News On AIR | March 22, 2011 2:47 PM
UNSC to discuss military action in Libya later this week