Syrian opposition groups have been calling on the United Nations to impose a no-fly zone, naval blockade and other measures to protect Syrian protesters since at least early October.
Leaders of the Free Syria Army, a group of armed forces defectors, have been particularly vocal in the call, saying such policies could allow them to establish a base of operations to launch a campaign to bring down al-Assad’s regime.
On October 4, China and Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have called for an immediate halt to the crackdown, which United Nations officials have said has resulted in an estimated 3,000 deaths since protests began.
The calls cited the successful NATO effort to end Libyan government assaults on civilians that resulted in the overthrow and death of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. In that case, NATO aircraft attacked government facilities and forces, giving a boost to rebels who eventually took power.
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