The Arab League on Wednesday said it was opposed to forms of foreign intervention in Libya, as reports emerged that two US warships passed through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean.
“The Libyan crisis was an internal Arab affair that did not require foreign intervention,' an Arab League statement said.
Arab foreign ministers also called on the Libyan leadership on Wednesday to take "brave" decisions to stop violence and respect the "legitimate rights" of the people.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, presiding over the opening session of the meeting in Cairo said the Libya crisis was an internal Arab affair, stressing that the Arabs did not want any "foreign intervention".
Foreign ministers and representatives of the 22-nation body, who met in a closed-door session at the league's Cairo headquarters, also condemned the violence against protesters.
The United States said that the two warships sent near Libya would be used for humanitarian purposes.
But Washington's defense officials also said no decisions had been made on possible military options against Libya's government and that any decision would be made in coordination with the international community.
For its part, the Arab League suspended Libya's membership last month over Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi's violent crackdown on protesters.
In addition, current Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said that the meeting was his last as the head of the organization, hinting he would resign within a week, amid speculation he may run for the Egyptian presidency.
