The United Arab Emirates will deploy 12 planes to help enforce the mission to protect civilians in Libya, its foreign minister said today.

The UAE is the second Arab country after Qatar to send planes to aid the military operation against Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan says the UAE committed six F-16s and six Mirage aircraft to "participate in the patrols" over Libya.

His comments were published by the state-run WAM news agency.

Qatar is expected to start flying air patrols by this weekend.

No other members of the 22-member Arab League have publicly committed to taking an active role. The Arab League urged the UN Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.

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