UN Security Council Ends Mandate for NATO Military Operations in Libya

“The U.N. Security Council has voted unanimously to lift the no-fly zone over Libya on Oct. 31 and end its authorization of military action to protect civilians.

The council adopted the resolution to end military action on Thursday, a day after Libya's deputy U.N. Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi asked to council to wait until the transitional government made an official request.

The council authorized the actions on March 17 in response to an Arab League request to try to halt Muammar Qaddafi's military, which was advancing against rebels and their civilian supporters. The NATO bombing campaign that followed was critical in helping the rebels oust Qaddafi from power in August.”