The high-level African Union panel on the Libya crisis has said it opposes any foreign military intervention in Libya, media report said on Saturday.

AFP quoted Mauritanian President Ould Abdel Aziz as saying that the panel rejects any kind of foreign military intervention in Libya.

The Mauritanian president said that the situation in the north African country demands urgent action so an African solution can be found to the very serious crisis.

Aziz also said the solution to the Libya crisis must take into account "Our desire that Libya's unity and territorial integrity be respected as well as the rejection of any kind of foreign military intervention ."

The AU panel on the Libya crisis, which was formed a week ago, comprises Mauritanian President Ould Abdel Aziz, South African President Jacob Zuma, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso and Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure.

AU said the ad hoc committee was set up to engage with all parties in Libya, facilitate in an inclusive dialogue among them, and engage AU parties for the speedy resolution of the crisis in Libya.

AU has rejected foreign military intervention in Libya.

France, the United States and Britain said on Saturday that they had conducted air strikes on Libyan targets.

The air strikes came after the UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya and called for "all necessary measures," excluding troops on the ground, to protect civilians under threat of attack in the North African country.

They also came after leaders from some Arab countries and main Western powers, at their Paris summit on Saturday, announced the start of military action against Libyan government forces.

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