World oil prices rallied on Monday, March 21, after Western air strikes were launched on key crude exporter Libya over the weekend.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, added $1.75 to $102.82 a barrel.

In London morning trade, Brent North Sea crude for May won $1.43 to $115.36 per barrel. "Brent oil prices rose ... following military intervention in Libya over the weekend," said analyst Conall Mac Coille at Davy stockbrokers in Dublin. "The increase in oil prices has fed through to other commodities, particularly metals."

"Oil prices have gone up due to military attacks in Libya from UN forces," said Victor Shum, senior principal for Purvin and Gertz international energy consultants in Singapore, AP reports.

Before the unrest, Libya was producing 1.69 million barrels a day, according to the International Energy Agency. Of this 1.2 million barrels were exported, mostly to Europe. Other major customers are China and the United States.