Gulf States Call for U.N. No-Fly Zone over Libya, Urgent Arab Summit

Gulf Arab states announced their support for imposing a no-fly zone over Libya in a statement on Monday, amid divisions among the major powers over military intervention in the North African nation.

"The Gulf Cooperation Council demands that the U.N. Security Council take all necessary measures to protect civilians, including enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya," the six-nation bloc's statement said.

The GCC also called for an emergency Arab League summit on the situation in the North African country.

"We call on the international community, especially the U.N. Security Council, to face their responsibilities in helping the dear people" of Libya, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan said earlier in the day at the opening session of a foreign ministers' meeting of the GCC in Abu Dhabi.

"The meeting is being held amid difficult changes the brotherly Libyan people are going through, prompting us to join our efforts to help them in their crisis," he said.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously passed sanctions against the Moammar Gadhafi regime and on February 26 ordered an investigation into possible crimes against humanity.

Any move towards military action is likely to face tough resistance from China, Russia and other members of the 15-member council.

"At the U.N. Security Council we are working closely with partners on a contingency basis on elements of a resolution on a no-fly zone, making clear the need for regional support, a clear trigger for such a resolution and an appropriate legal basis," UK Foreign Secretary William Hague told Britain's parliament on Monday.

The GCC groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.