Call comes as the United Nations approved all necessary steps to protect the Libyan people

Menendez: "As Qadhafi's air strikes increase so will the human suffering."

Washington - US Senator Robert Menendez (D - New Jersey), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today, calling for an immediate no-fly zone over Libya. This step, needed to address the growing number of air strikes by the Qadhafi regime, as well as the human suffering they are causing, would be taken in coordination with European and/or NATO forces. The call comes as the United Nations approved all necessary steps to protect the Libyan people from Qadhafi's military attacks.

Senator Menendez said, "As Qadhafi's air strikes increase so will the human suffering. Now is the time to implement a no-fly zone, supported by our allies in the international community, to demonstrate our support for the Libyan people who are struggling to free themselves from decades of oppression. The strength of our commitment to democratic reform and to humanitarian policies is being tested. We have an opportunity to address the growing humanitarian crisis and to support the Libyan people in their quest for freedom. Now is our opportunity. Now is the time to step forward."

Menendez is the author of the Senate resolution calling on Qadhafi to step down and urging the United Nations Security Council to take further action to protect civilians in Libya from attack, including the possible imposition of a no-fly zone over Libyan territory. The resolution, S. Res. 85, passed the Senate last week.

###