DUBAI (AFP) — The United Arab Emirates, a key U.S. ally, said it has committed six F-16 and six Mirage fighters to help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya, despite reservations linked to unrest in Bahrain.

""UAE participation in the patrols will commence in the coming days,"" Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan announced, quoted by state news agency WAM late on Thursday.
""In support of UN Resolution 1973, the UAE is fully engaged with humanitarian operations in Libya,"" he said.
""As an extension of those humanitarian operations, the UAE air force has committed six F-16 and six Mirage aircraft to participate in the patrols that will enforce the no-fly zone now established over Libya.""
A former UAE air force commander said earlier this week that his country had delayed its military deployment because of disagreements with the West over the unrest in Bahrain.
In Washington, a U.S. official said on Thursday that his country was ""deeply appreciative"" of the contribution of its UAE ally to the international campaign in Libya.
On Wednesday, five days after the United States, Britain and France launched air strikes to protect Libyans from Moamer Kadhafi's security forces, Qatar was the only Arab state to have offered warplanes for the no-fly zone.
The 22-member Arab League endorsed the no-fly zone before Western warplanes under Security Council Resolution 1973 launched attacks on the air defenses of Kadhafi's forces fighting an armed revolt.