UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council voted Thursday to end its seven-month intervention in Libya to protect civilians during the uprising that toppled the Gadhafi regime.
The 15-member council unanimously approved a resolution ending the U.N. mandate effective Monday, the U.N. said in a news release.
The vote also will terminate a no-fly zone over Libya and end aerial support for rebels who fought the Gadhafi regime.
The council welcomed what it called positive developments in Libya, saying the North African country now has "better prospects for a democratic, peaceful and prosperous future."
The release said the council "looked forward to a swift establishment of an inclusive, representative transitional government and reiterated the need for the transitional period to be underpinned by a commitment to democracy, good governance, the rule of law, national reconciliation and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people."
The Security Council "strongly urged" Libyan authorities to avoid reprisals, including arbitrary detentions, to prevent wrongful imprisonment and extrajudicial executions and to assume responsibility for its population and foreign nationals and migrants from the rest of Africa.
The council called on its member states to cooperate with Libyan authorities in efforts to "end impunity for violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law."
Libya's National Transitional Council declared the full liberation of the country Sunday.
NATO said it had flown 26,000 sorties since March 31. The alliance said earlier this week its involvement in Libya had come to an end with the death of Gadhafi, killed last Thursday in the fall of Sirte, the last loyalist stronghold, but postponed a decision on any formal action.
The NTC Wednesday urged NATO to maintain its mission in the country until at least the end of the year to deter any remaining resistance.
