UK, France seek no-fly zone in Libya

AS LANUF, Libya: Britain and France said they were looking for the UN resolution on no-fly zone over Libya as Muammar Qaddafi warplanes counteroffensive against the rebels and aid have millions of people in need.
Al-Jazeera said the rebels have rejected a proposal to hold a meeting Gaddafi parliament to hammer out an agreement under which he would resign.
With civilians surrounded by forces loyal to Qadhafi in two western cities, Misrata and Zawiyah, fears rose of the rising humanitarian crisis if the fighting continued.
UN aid coordinator Valerie Amos said that more than a million people fled or inside the country needed humanitarian assistance.
"Humanitarian agencies are in urgent need of access now," she said. "People are injured and the death and needs help immediately."
UN appealed for $ 160 million to finance operations during the next three months to get shelter, food and medical supplies are ready.
"We are working closely with partners on the basis of contingency on the elements of a resolution on no-fly zone, explaining the need for regional support, it is clear trigger for such permission, and appropriate legal framework," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Monday.
The French official said France was "working with our partners in New York no-fly zone resolution." Gulf countries have called for a no-fly zone and the urgent Arab League meeting.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in Afghanistan, where foreign forces have fought for a decade, warns action should be taken only with international support. The White House said that all options on the table, including the armed rebels.
Russia, a permanent member of UN Security Council with veto power, said she opposes foreign military intervention.
NATO Secretary General, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen stressed the need for UN authorization. "I can not imagine the international community and the United Nations will stand idly by if Gadhafi and his regime continue to attack their own people," he said.
"We have asked our military to carry out all necessary planning, the fact that we are ready as soon as possible," he added.
NATO began a 24-hour surveillance of Libya with AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, the U.S. ambassador to NATO said.
Ivo Daalder added NATO officials discussed other possible moves ahead of NATO ministerial meeting on Thursday.