The United States and South Africa struck a deal on Thursday to allow the release of $1.5 billion in frozen Libya funds for humanitarian aid and other civilian needs, UN diplomats said on Thursday.

Council diplomats said the agreement would enable the funds to be released without a UN Security Council vote on a U.S.
draft resolution that Washington submitted to the council on Wednesday in response to South Africa blocking a US request
to disburse the money in the UN Libya sanctions committee.