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Washington, March 13 (Saba) - The White House said the Arab League's call for a no-fly zone over Libya is an "important step" to reduce violence in the country and support the people who are opposing the government of Moammar Gadhafi, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).

"The international community is unified in sending a clear message that the violence in Libya must stop, and that the Gadhafi regime must be held accountable," the White House said. "The United States will continue to advance our efforts to pressure Gaddafi, to support the Libyan opposition, and to prepare for all contingencies, in close coordination with our international partners."

The League of Arab States after an emergency meeting asked the United Nations to "shoulder its responsibility ... to impose a no-fly zone over the movement of Libyan military planes and to create safe zones in the places vulnerable to airstrikes."
The US and the European Union had deferred to the 22-member league of Arab nations to determine whether outside military forces should intervene with many leaders expressing reservations about the usefulness of imposing no-fly zone while escalating their involvement in another conflict in the region.

The UN Security Council will consider the move and examine the intricacies of enforcing a no-fly zone as permanent members China and Russia are thought to oppose the proposal.

President Obama has called for Gadhafi to step down and has issued sanctions against Libya. Despite pressure from some US senators to intervene in Libya, however, Obama has hesitated on whether to take military action. Britain and France have pushed for intervention.

Saba