UN Approves Mission To Libya, Recognizes NTC As Interim Government

The UN Security Council has unanimously agreed to send an assistance mission to Libya and to start rolling back some of the weapons and financial sanctions imposed against Libyan companies and the former Gaddafi government.

At the request of Libya’s National Transitional Council(NTC), the mission will be limited to providing political assistance on issues like election preparation, transitional justice and national reconciliation for an initial three month mandate. 

Security Council diplomats said provisions authorizing NATO air strikes to protect civilian populations and the implementation of a No Fly Zone would remain in the resolution until conditions on the ground allowed for them to be lifted.

The Security Council resolution also lifts all sanctions against Libyan oil companies, by far the country’s most profitable industry.

Earlier today, the General Assembly voted to recognize members of the National Transitional Council as Libya’s official representatives to the UN by a vote 114-17, with 15 abstentions.

Several Latin American and African countries voted against the move and accused Western powers of ignoring ceasefire negotiations between parties and violating the Security Council’s “protection of civilians “ mandate in its attempts to overthrow the Gaddafi regime.