OIC's Ihsanoglu calls for UN no-fly zone over Libya

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Turkish secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), yesterday backed a no-fly zone over Libya, while rejecting any operation that would involve foreign troops on the ground. "We add our voice to the chorus calling for a no-fly zone in Libya, and we call on the Security Council to do its duty in this regard," Ihsanoglu said at the start of an emergency meeting in Saudi Arabia of the 57-member OIC. Britain and France are spearheading a drive at the UN for a no-fly zone over Libya as battles rage between rebels and forces loyal to the government. The White House has pushed back against rising pressure from some US lawmakers for direct intervention in Libya, saying it first wants to figure out what military options could achieve.