Two Qatari Mirage interceptor fighters took part on Friday in the UN mission to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, the French Defence Ministry said.

Along with Qatar - the first Arab country to take part in the operation - the United Arab Emirates will send 12 warplanes to support the international coalition in Libya, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said earlier in the day.

French military command said that about 30 French aircraft had taken part in the operation in the past 24 hours.

The UN Security Council imposed a no-fly zone over Libya on March 17, and permitted "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Libyan leader's Muammar Gaddafi's attacks on rebel-held towns.

The military operation in Libya, codenamed Odyssey Dawn, has been conducted so far jointly by 13 states, including the United States, Britain and France.

PARIS, March 25 (RIA Novosti)