UN votes to sanction Gadhafi
Source: Agencies |
February 28, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
The United Nations Security Council unanimously imposed travel and asset sanctions on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his children and close aides, ratcheting up pressure on him to quit before any more blood is shed in a popular revolt against his rule.
Voting 15-0 on Saturday after daylong discussions, the council imposed an arms embargo and urged UN member countries to freeze the assets of Gadhafi, four of his sons and a daughter.
The council also backed a travel ban on the Gadhafi family and close associates, including leaders of the revolutionary committees accused of much of the violence against opponents.
Council members additionally agreed to refer the Gadhafi regime's deadly crackdown on protesters to a permanent war crimes tribunal for an investigation into possible crimes against humanity.
The council said its actions were aimed at "deploring the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including the repression of peaceful demonstrators."
And council members expressed concern about civilian deaths, "rejecting unequivocally the incitement to hostility and violence against the civilian population made from the highest level of the Libyan government."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated council members on the vote, saying it "sends a strong message that gross violations of basic human rights will not be tolerated."
The sanctions were welcomed by Libya's deputy UN ambassador, Ibrahim Dabbashi, whose entire mission is among Libyan diplomats around the world who have renounced Gadhafi.
The Libyan uprising that began on February 15 has swept over nearly the entire eastern half of the country, snatching entire cities out of the government's grasp. Gadhafi and his backers continue to hold the capital Tripoli and have threatened to put down protests aggressively.
Earlier on Saturday, United States President Barack Obama said in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Gadhafi needed to do what's right for his country by "leaving now."
Voting 15-0 on Saturday after daylong discussions, the council imposed an arms embargo and urged UN member countries to freeze the assets of Gadhafi, four of his sons and a daughter.
The council also backed a travel ban on the Gadhafi family and close associates, including leaders of the revolutionary committees accused of much of the violence against opponents.
Council members additionally agreed to refer the Gadhafi regime's deadly crackdown on protesters to a permanent war crimes tribunal for an investigation into possible crimes against humanity.
The council said its actions were aimed at "deploring the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including the repression of peaceful demonstrators."
And council members expressed concern about civilian deaths, "rejecting unequivocally the incitement to hostility and violence against the civilian population made from the highest level of the Libyan government."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated council members on the vote, saying it "sends a strong message that gross violations of basic human rights will not be tolerated."
The sanctions were welcomed by Libya's deputy UN ambassador, Ibrahim Dabbashi, whose entire mission is among Libyan diplomats around the world who have renounced Gadhafi.
The Libyan uprising that began on February 15 has swept over nearly the entire eastern half of the country, snatching entire cities out of the government's grasp. Gadhafi and his backers continue to hold the capital Tripoli and have threatened to put down protests aggressively.
Earlier on Saturday, United States President Barack Obama said in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Gadhafi needed to do what's right for his country by "leaving now."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
