LIBYA is in turmoil. It is now virtually divided into two: the rebels are controlling the eastern part of the country whereas pro-Qadhafi forces hold the western part.

The US has frozen $30 billion assets of President Qadhafi. These assets are besides those stashed in European countries.

Now, the US is considering imposing a no-fly zone (NFZ) in Libya that would be considered an open act of war against a sovereign Muslim country.

To accomplish this objective, the US will have to move two of its aircraft carriers to the Mediterranean close to the Libyan coast, in addition to positioning hundreds of aircraft, dozens of naval ships and thousands of personnel. And, of course, it would involve a huge price tag as well.

As far as the Libyan air force is concerned, it may not be that effective against the American might, but its surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles could definitely prove to be a potent threat for the American aircraft in the NFZ.

These days the US is already engaged in war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has to be seen whether it would opt to open a third front for itself in Libya.

Libya pumps almost 1.6 million barrels of oil daily and most of it is consumed by western Europe. Can Europe afford losing Libyan oil?

Also, can European oil companies risk losing contracts in Libya as the country may invite Chinese and Russian companies to replace them.

These are some of the questions which need answers before the US could think of imposing a no-fly zone in Libya.

There is an organisation with the name of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which has 57 Muslim countries as its members. Libya is also a member of this organisation since its inception in 1969.

This organisation, which is a representative of the Ummah, is supposed to look after the interests of the entire Muslim world.

It was conspicuous by its silence till such time Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president and friend of President Qadhafi, offered to broker a peace deal between President Qadhafi and the Libyan rebels.

It is the duty of the OIC to ensure that no foreign intervention takes place in Libya and that issues pertaining to this North African country are resolved by the OIC itself in an amicable way.

AIR CDRE (Rtd) AZFAR A. KHAN Rawalpindi