news News

UN Security Council authorizes ‘all necessary measures’ to protect civilians in Libya
by UN News & agencies
8:18pm 17th Mar, 2011
 
17 March 2011
  
UN Security Council authorizes ‘all necessary measures’ to protect civilians in Libya.
  
The Security Council today effectively authorized the use of force in Libya to protect civilians from attack, specifically in the eastern city of Benghazi, which Colonel Muammar Al-Qadhafi has reportedly said he will storm tonight to end a revolt against his regime.
  
Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provides for the use of force if needed, the Council adopted a resolution by 10 votes to zero, with five abstentions, including those of veto-wielding China and Russia, authorizing Member States “to take all necessary measures… to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamhariya, including Benghazi, while excluding an occupation force.”
  
Mar 2011
  
Arab states back Libya no-fly zone.
  
The Arab League has agreed to ask the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. Diplomats at the emergency meeting of the League in Cairo have also voted to begin talks with the national council of rebel groups opposing the regime of Moamar Gaddafi.
  
Mr Gaddafi"s regime had its membership of the League suspended. The 30-member national rebel council has already been recognised by France as the legitimate representative body of the Libyan people.
  
Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa says the group decided that "serious crimes and great violations" committed by the government of Mr Gaddafi against his people has stripped it of legitimacy.
  
"We want to protect the civilian population in Libya after what has been reported of the attacks and casualties and very tense situation; very bloody situation," he said.
  
But it is not immediately clear how Russia and China, Libya’s main arms suppliers to the Gaddafi regime, and who hold veto rights in the UN Security Council and to date have publicly opposed a no-fly zone, will react to a call for immediate action from a regional body.
  
16 March 2011
  
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Al-Qadhafi’s Government to cease hostilities immediately, warning that a potential assault on the rebel-held city of Benghazi could endanger huge numbers of civilians.
  
“Those responsible for the continuous use of military forces against civilians will be held accountable,” a statement issued by his spokesperson said, as media reported that Mr. Qadhafi’s forces had intensified offensives in the east and the west of the North African country against what began a month ago as mass protests by peaceful civilians seeking his ouster.
  
“The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the increasing military escalation by government forces, which include indications of an assault on the city of Benghazi. A campaign to bombard such an urban centre would massively place civilian lives at risk,” the statement added of the eastern city that has become the main base of anti-Qadhafi forces.
  
Mr. Ban, who is currently visiting Guatemala, is keeping in close touch with “the critical discussions” under way in the Security Council over measures aimed at protecting civilians, and last night spoke by phone with Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kusa.
  
The special envoy whom Mr. Ban sent to Tripoli, the capital, for humanitarian and political talks with Mr. Qadhafi’s Government, former Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib, has now left the city after two days of discussions in which he conveyed “the strong calls by the international community to cease the fighting and the violence, to ensure humanitarian access and to work toward a peaceful solution of the crisis,” the statement said.
  
“The Special Envoy stressed the need for a firm and unambiguous commitment on the part of the Libyan government to cease hostilities immediately,” it added.
  
Mr. Khatib is continuing his efforts, including contacts with representatives of Libyan political groups in Benghazi, as well as with the authorities in Tripoli.
  
Security Council members are holding consultations over an Arab League request that it impose a no-fly zone against Mr. Qadhafi’s air force, which has been pounding cities held by his opponents.
  
The 15-member body last month imposed sanctions against the Libyan authorities, placing an arms embargo on the country and freezing the assets of its leaders, while referring the violent repression of civilian demonstrators to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.
  
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo subsequently announced that he is opening an investigation into Mr. Qadhafi, some of his sons and members of his inner circle for crimes against humanity in repressing peaceful protesters in violence that has claimed hundreds or even thousands of lives, according to media reports. Mr. Ban has said Mr. Qadhafi lost his legitimacy when he declared war on his people.
  
Feb 26, 2011
  
The U.N. Security Council called for an international war crimes investigation into “widespread and systemic attacks” against Libyan citizens.
  
The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday night to impose sanctions on Libya’s leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, and his inner circle of advisers, and called for an international war crimes investigation into “widespread and systemic attacks” against Libyan citizens who have protested against his government over the last two weeks.
  
The vote, thought to be the first time the Security Council has voted unanimously to refer a member state to the International Criminal Court, came on the same day that US President Barack.
  
The Security Council resolution also imposes an arms embargo against Libya, an international travel ban on 16 Libyan leaders and freezes the assets of Colonel Qaddafi and members of his family, including seven of his sons and a daughter. Also included in the sanctions were measures against defense and intelligence officials who are believed to have played a role in the violence against civilians in Libya.
  
The US Government has imposed unilateral sanctions against Libya. It froze billions of dollars of Libyan government assets and announced that it would do the same with the assets of high-ranking Libyan officials who took part in the violent crackdown.
  
Feb 2011
  
Enforce a no-fly zone over Libya now
  
In Libya, Colonel Qaddafi"s armed forces are using machine guns and fighter jets against pro-democracy protesters - hundreds have already been killed and, without immediate international action, the situation could further spiral into a greater national bloodbath.
  
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is in emergency meetings on Libya now. If we can pressure them to agree to a no-fly zone over Libya, a freeze of Qaddafi"s, his family"s and his high command"s assets, targeted sanctions against the regime, and international prosecution of any military officials involved in the crackdown -- this could help to stop airforce bombings and split Qaddafi"s command structure.
  
We have no time to lose -- the people of Libya are being slaughtered by government security forces and paid mercenaries. Click to send a message directly to all the UNSC delegations to call on them to act to stop the widespread violence and share this with everyone - let"s inundate them with messages with the calls for urgent action!
  
Join many thosands of other people from around the world, and sign the petition calling for an immediate stop to the bloodshed.

Visit the related web page
 
Next (more recent) news item
Next (older) news item