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Libya's foreign minister Moussa Koussa said the country would call an immediate military ceasefire on the back of the UN resolution. Ben Curtis/AP

Libya calls immediate ceasefire following UN no-fly resolution

Libya’s foreign minister says his country will halt all military action – just hours after the UN votes to impose a no-fly zone.

LIBYA’S FOREIGN MINISTER has announced that his country will be calling an immediate ceasefire to its military campaign, following the United Nations’ Security Council resolution seeking an end to armed hostilities in the country.

The Guardian reported that foreign minister Moussa Koussa said his country had accepted the resolution and would halt all military activity immediately – just hours after the UN’s heavyweight committee voted without opposition to impose a no-fly zone over the country.

As Libya was a member state of the United Nations, it was bound to respect the UN’s decisions, Koussa explained, adding that Libya encouraged the “opening of all dialogue channels” with the wider world.

The resolution was criticised nonetheless, saying the use of military force was both a breach of Libya’s sovereignty and of the UN’s charter.

Such a move meant UN forces would take pre-emptive military action to disable Libya’s own airborne capabilities.

It was not immediately clear whether the government’s decision had been backed by the country’s de facto leader Muammar Gaddafi, who had yesterday warned foreign forces he would turn his country into “another Vietnam”.

Foreign troops entering his country would “be entering Hell”, he said, adding that they would ultimately “drown in blood”.

Though the resolution of the Security Council was not unanimous, permanent members Russia and China – who both wield vetoes on the committee – both chose not to use them, meaning a 10-0 passage for the resolution.

The announcement of Libya’s ceasefire came shortly after British prime minister David Cameron revealed that the UK would send RAF planes to Libya “in the coming hours” to help enforce the no-fly zone.

Cameron told the House of Commons this morning that Britain would join a UN-authorized operation to stop Muammar Gaddafi from launching “a brutal attack using air, land and sea forces” on the rebel-held city of Benghazi.

RAF Typhoon and Tornado fighter jets would be involved in the operation, which Cameron said was ‘about saving lives’ and protecting people in Libya – insisting it was “not about choosing the government of Libya.”

The Commons speech came as Britain, France and NATO held emergency meetings following the overnight vote of the UN Security Council approved a no-fly zone over Libya.

Additional reporting by AP

More: What is a no-fly zone anyway ?>

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6 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nikki
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    Nov 7th 2015, 8:33 AM

    Fantastic idea! Well done!

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    Mute Freebetcitydcom Mike
    Favourite Freebetcitydcom Mike
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    Nov 7th 2015, 10:45 AM

    Self built personal terminators?

    13
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    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 8:45 AM

    Can I just tell these kids they make me embarrassed to be an adult! Good job and keep thinking. A lot of children could benefit from this. Special mention to your teacher who I think could be also very special.

    100
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    Mute Ronan Doyle
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    Nov 7th 2015, 8:38 AM

    Well done kids! Great to see a solution to the problem developed by those closest to it. Let’s hope it catches on.

    74
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    Mute Ger Buckley
    Favourite Ger Buckley
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    Nov 7th 2015, 8:34 AM

    Well done them.

    49
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    Mute Sarah O'Sullivan
    Favourite Sarah O'Sullivan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 10:06 AM

    Fantastic idea as long as the concept of bullying is taught properly in the first instance. Parents often use the word bullying to describe instances that are in fact just two kids disagreeing with eachother. Children need to be allowed to develop resilience and should be explicitly taught problem solving skills in order to try to figure out such disagreements for themselves without the now ever-constant intervention of parents. Parents are doing their children no favours at all with the “mommy will fix everything” approach. Where genuine bullying is occurring I think this invention could really help open dialogue and would certainly remedy the problem that many teachers face in that often no report is made to teachers when something happens and they know nothing until a parent shows up at the door 3 days later.

    44
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    Mute Keaneland
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    Nov 7th 2015, 8:45 AM

    Well done, amazing solution! I want one!!

    39
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    Mute Eddie Danger
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:24 AM

    Unfortunately anyone wearing a bully bug is likely to be bullied for it

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    Mute Daragh8008
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:28 AM

    Or your mates will be pushing the button for you, so you’ll end up having to have chats with the teacher later.

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    Mute Paul Wallace
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:28 AM

    I agree

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    Mute Lily
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:43 AM

    After being bullied as a kid I do agree. The kids are trying to help bless their good intentions, but I wonder how many have been bullied?

    I know I never confided in a teacher, parents or any adult, only myself and the other girl that was bullied confided in each other.

    I left the school and she was tormented for years after I left verbally and by exclusion. She still carries the scars as do I. She still lives in the area and never talks to any of her old class.

    If they really want to help build a friends network to support those who are victims of bullying, give them a safe space where they can be themselves, have fun and not feel threatened.

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    Mute Missyb211
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:22 AM

    Nice idea but in my experience bullying is only accepted as such by teachers if it physical. This App is indeed great in that situation but I have spoken to kids that felt they were bullied by the words and actions of other kids, told teachers and yet nothing was done about it. Teachers played it down. They tried to “reassure” ie convince the child it wasn’t bullying. Every kid in the school knew it was bullying but the teachers never did anything to address it.( Laziness or fear of approaching parents? )Not a word about bullying or treating others good or anything. What good is a bully alarm in that situation? Attitudes to what bullying is have to change first and how it affects the children has to be taken seriously before it can be tackled.

    Well done all the same kids. It’s great to see innovation from a young age. I hope it encourages the girls to think seriously about studying science/ engineering/ maths where it is seen mainly as a boys career.

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    Mute Seán O'Ceallaghan
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    Nov 7th 2015, 9:39 AM

    Great idea solutions requires to recognise bullying and not blame it on some mitigating factor.

    10
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    Mute Missyb211
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    Nov 7th 2015, 10:30 AM

    and what mitigating factor is being blamed? A solution to half a problem is not a solution.

    1
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    Mute Louise O'Connell
    Favourite Louise O'Connell
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    Nov 7th 2015, 11:56 AM

    Super proud of these kids and even more proud to be one of there parents alot hard work and dedication went into this project from them they can’t believe how far they have come

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    Mute Dermot Fennelly
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    Nov 7th 2015, 8:33 AM

    It’s called a fist

    18
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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
    Favourite Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Nov 7th 2015, 11:38 AM

    Sean, I think your idea to stop bullying has quite a lot of merit, though I’d hit the parents of bullies where it hurts, in their wallets

    9
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    Mute Louise O'Connell
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    Nov 7th 2015, 12:22 PM

    Super proud of these kids I’m even more proud to say one of them is my daughter they have worked so hard for this they can’t believe how far they have come

    12
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    Mute Louise O'Connell
    Favourite Louise O'Connell
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    Nov 7th 2015, 11:56 AM

    Super proud of these kids and even more proud to be one of there parents alot hard work and dedication went into this project from them they can’t believe how far they have come

    8
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Nov 7th 2015, 1:00 PM

    So bullying is getting more common then?

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    Mute Debbie O'Connell
    Favourite Debbie O'Connell
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    Nov 8th 2015, 12:31 PM

    Fair play to these kids making a stand.on bullying these kids a credit to their school teacher and parents well done St Audeons

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