UN approves no-fly zone over Libya; Western forces launch air attack; 47 people killed in Saana, Yemen declares 'state of emergency'; Bahrain declares state of emergency
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    • The United Nations Security Council voted on March 17 to impose a no-fly zone over Libya and authorize “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from attacks by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces. The UN vote paved the way for possible international air strikes on Gaddafi’s advancing military and reflected the past week’s swift reversal of the situation in Libya, where once-confident rebels are now in danger of being obliterated by an overpowering pro-Qaddafi force using rockets, artillery, tanks, warplanes. That force has advanced along the Mediterranean coast aiming to recapture the rebel-held eastern half of Libya. The resolution establishes “a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians.” It also authorizes UN member states to take “all necessary measures ... to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.”1

    The United States in a coalition with Britain, France, Italy and Canada among others have launched air strikes on Libya on March 19. The allied forces launched a second wave of air strikes on March 20 as officials in Tripoli said a missile intended to kill Muammar Gaddafi had destroyed a building in his fortified compound. Government Spokesman Musa Ibrahim has stated that "It was a barbaric bombing." Earlier on March 19, the first air strikes halted the advance of Gaddafi's forces on the rebel-held eastern city of Benghazi and had targeted Libya's air defenses in order to let Western warplanes patrol the skies of Libya. The second wave of Western air strikes also hit Gaddafi's troops around Ajdabiyah, a strategic town in the barren, scrub of east Libya that rebels aim to retake and where their fighters said they need more help to take the fight to the enemy.2

    However, Yemen’s President declared a state of emergency on March 18 after many protesters were killed at an anti-government rally, and has alleged that armed groups were behind the violence.3 The announcement will give the government the ability to restrict people’s rights and spy on their networks according to a senior government official. “The country is witnessing a real crisis, and the state of emergency is the only option in ensuring that Yemen can be safe,” a senior Interior Ministry official said. Legal attorney Hussein Al-Mashdali, however, said that the calling for a state of emergency in not constitutional because a state of emergency law does not exist. President Saleh has ordered that a fact finding committee be made up to investigate today’s killings and report back to the government within days.4

    President Ali Abdullah Saleh sacked the government on March 20 and later reappointed it as a caretaker government until a new government is formed. The decision included ordering the government to manage the ordinary public affairs but there were no new appointments. It came amid the escalating protests demanding the ouster of the regime across the republic. The move came after collective resignations of officials including ministers, ambassadors and other senior officials from their posts and from the General People's Congress, the ruling party.5

    Meanwhile, in a clash between the protesters and the security forces, 47 people were killed and more than hundred injured in the capital Saana. It has been alleged that during the shootings, a governmental helicopter was patrolling the area of the protests for more than ten minutes. The government on its part has denied the involvement of security forces in the attack against the protesters.6

    However, Bahrain declared a three-month state of emergency on March 15, following sporadic clashes that broke out in several parts of the country. In capital Manama and other places, anti-government protesters clashed with the security forces. The situation became uglier when two people were killed in the Shiite area of Sitra and more than 200 people were wounded in various incidents. The government however clarified that the promulgation of the state of emergency was not akin to martial law. According to the government sources, “There are no specific restrictions on the movement of civilians. This state of emergency is meant to protect the life and property of Bahrainis from hooligans who are out to destroy our country.” Meanwhile, Bahraini opposition parties have urged the government to give ironclad guarantees that it will carry out political reforms as promised by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.7

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