UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's crackdown on anti-government protesters and demanded an immediate end to the violence.
A press statement agreed by all 15 council members expressed "grave concern" at the situation in Libya and condemned the violence and use of force against civilians.
The council called for an "immediate end to the violence" and steps to address the legitimate demands of the Libyan people.
Council members called on the Libyan government "to meet its responsibility to protect its population," to act with restraint, and to respect human rights and international humanitarian law.
They called for immediate access for international human rights monitors and humanitarian agencies.
The council underlined the need for the Libyan government to respect the rights to peaceful assembly, free expression and press freedom.
The council issued the statement hours after Gadhafi vowed in a television address to keep fighting to his "last drop of blood" and urged his supporters to take to the streets, setting the stage for even more deadly violence.
Libya's deputy U.N. ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi, who has called for Gadhafi to step down, said the council statement was "not strong enough" but was "a good step to stopping the bloodshed."
He said he had received information that Gadhafi's collaborators have started "attacking people in all the cities in western Libya."
UN Security Council Condemns Libya Crackdown
Feb 22, 2011 – 6:08 PM
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