Egyptian civil aviation authorities started Friday to implement the UN Security Council decision to impose a commercial no-fly-zone on Libya. The decision is intended to protect Libyan civilians from pro-Qadhafi forces. All flights to Libya have been halted and air passages closed.
Pilot Sameh al-Hanafi, head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, said "As soon as the security council issues its decision, all flights between Egypt and Libya were halted and all air passages through Libya were closed. Alternative routes, away from Libyan air space, have been set for flights passing through or departing from Egypt."
In related news, Cairo International Airport received 140 Egyptians who fled the situation in Libya through Tunisia and arrived on a special plane from Garba Airport in Tunisia.
Those returning from Libya indicated that Muammar Qadhafi's forces closed the Tunisian borders to prevent Egyptians who wanted to flee Libya from leaving. Qadhafi's forces beat Egyptians with whips and confiscated their cell phones and money.
