Security Council lifts no-fly zone over Libya

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Thursday decided to end its authorization of a no-fly zone over Libya and the protection of civilians on October 31, despite a call by Libya's ruling National Transitional Council for a delay.

The decision was contained in a resolution adopted by the 15-nation Security Council, about a week after the fallen Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi was killed and some three days after the declared "liberation" of the North African nation by the former rebels.

The Security Council decided that the measures about the no-fly zone and the protection of civilians "shall be terminated from 23:59 local time on 31 October 2011," the resolution said.

In March, the Security Council approved the authorization of the no-fly zone over Libya and the protection of civilians in its Resolution 1973.

Russia, who drafted the new resolution, has been critical of NATO-led military operations in Libya, saying that air strikes went beyond Resolution 1973's mandate of protecting civilians.