RAS LANUF, LIBYA/CAIRO: The United States backed a call by the Arab League for a United Nations no-fly zone over Libya, as government troops backed by warplanes fought to drive rebels from remaining strongholds in western Libya.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said the League, meeting in Cairo on Saturday, had decided that "serious crimes and great violations" committed by the government of Muammar Qaddafi against his people had stripped it of legitimacy.
Washington, which would play a leading role in enforcing any no-fly zone, called the declaration an "important step"; but it stopped short of commitment to any military action and made no proposal for a swift meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
It was not clear if the League's call for a no-fly zone would provide the unequivocal regional endorsement NATO required for military action to curb Qaddafi.
Diplomats in New York said they could not rule out a weekend meeting of the U.N. Security Council to vote on the issue, but added it was unlikely.
On the ground, Qaddafi marshalled his forces to defy a tide of reform that has led to the overthrow of autocratic rulers in Tunisia and Egypt and unprecedented protest elsewhere.
However, a rebellion slowed the advance of a crack Libyan brigade commanded by Qaddafi's son Khamis as it advanced on Misrata, with 32 soldiers joining the rebels holding the city, a rebel there said.
He said one defector was a general.
Rebel spokesman Gamal added that the brigade, stalled about 10-15 km south of the city, broke out in a fire fight after dozens of troops balked at the idea of killing innocent civilians in the impending attack.
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