The Arab League has backed the idea of a no-fly zone over Libya, as rebels continue to be pushed back by Colonel Gaddafi’s forces.
A special meeting in Cairo voted to ask the UN Security Council to impose the policy until the current crisis ended.
The UK and France have pushed for the idea, but have failed so far to win firm backing from the EU or Nato.
Libyan rebel forces have meanwhile suffered fresh setbacks including the loss of the key oil port of Ras Lanuf.
Reports suggested that the rebel front line had been pushed back even further back, towards the town of Ujala.
The Arab League vote for a no-fly zone was opposed only by Syria and Algeria, reports from the Cairo meeting said.
