Arab FMs postpone to Friday crisis meeting over Libya developments

Arab foreign ministers are to hold crisis talks on Saturday to discuss imposing a no-fly zone over Libya.

The meeting was initially scheduled for Friday, but was postponed a day after requests from several foreign ministers, deputy secretary general Ahmed Ben Hilli told reporters.

"The meeting was requested by several Arab states and comes after several contacts undertaken by the secretary general," said Hisham Youssef, Secretary General Amr Mussa's chief of staff.

Another Arab League official said the meeting is aimed at "discussing the steps to be taken to protect the Libyan people, including imposing a no-fly zone over Libya."

The 22-member body, which last week said it would reject any foreign military intervention in Libya, had barred Tripoli from attending its meetings until it responds to the demands of the demonstrators.

Rights groups say thousands have been martyred since February 15 in Libya where protesters are fighting to overthrow long-time ruler Moamer Gaddafi.

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu earlier Tuesday called on the United Nations to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya. "We join our voice to the voices asking 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 of the 57-member OIC in Saudi Arabia.