UN Turns Up the Heat on Libya

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called today on the Security Council to take urgent action against Moammar Gadhafi's regime, which is believed to have killed thousands of protesters in Libya.

"It is time for the Security Council to consider concrete action," Ban told the 15-nation body. "Whatever your course, let us be mindful of the urgency of the moment.

"This is an historic turning point, and the international community must rise to the occasion," Ban told journalists after briefing the council.

In an afternoon session, the council deliberated on a draft resolution prepared by France, Germany, Britain and the United States to impose sanctions against Libya.

"We have had the first consultations right now on this text," Gerard Araud, the French envoy to the U.N., told journalists this evening. "I can say, quoting the Russian ambassador, we have seen there is a large commonality of views among the members."

Russia and China are generally not in favor of interfering in another country's internal problems.

Proposals to take steps against Gadhafi's government include imposing economic sanctions, freezing assets overseas, leveling travel embargoes, instituting a "no-fly" zone and seeking accountability for human rights abuse, with the possibility of the matter being referred to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Libya is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, which means the only way to get the case to the court would be for the Security Council to refer it. Human rights groups are calling on the council to do so.

"Col. al-Gadhafi and his chain of command have to understand they will answer for their actions," said Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty. "They need to see that investigation and prosecution are a reality they will face."

Brazilian envoy Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, the current Security Council president, told journalists council members will meet Saturday to deliberate on the draft resolution, "including specific targeted measures aimed at putting an end to violence."

Earlier this week, the council issued a strongly worded press statement calling on Libya's leadership to stop attacking the civilian population. Observers, however, pointed out that this move didn't help.

Gadhafi has also ignored Ban's call to end the violence, which the U.N. chief made in a 40-minute conversation this week.

"What he [Gadhafi] has done is totally unacceptable," Ban said Wednesday. "After such long and extensive discussions and my strong urging, and even appeal to him, he has not heeded. ... This is not acceptable."

The U.S. today announced it was imposing unilateral sanctions against Libya and closed its embassy operations in the capital, Tripoli. Other nations, including Britain, Russia and France, have also called on Libyan authorities to stop the violence.

On Monday, Ban will travel to Washington to meet with President Barack Obama to discuss what needs to be done to stop the bloodshed in Libya.

In a dramatic gesture, the Libyan delegation to the U.N. in Geneva denounced Gadhafi today and said it sided with the people.

A resolution adopted unanimously by the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva called on Libya to immediately cease its crackdown on the demonstrators. It also voted to suspend Libya's membership.

The decision has to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the 192-member General Assembly in order to take effect.

"Although reports are still patchy and hard to verify, one thing is painfully clear: In brazen and continuing breach of international law, the crackdown in Libya of peaceful demonstrations is escalating alarmingly with reported mass killings, arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of protesters, " said Navi Pillay, the U.N. human rights chief.

"The Libyan leader must stop the violence now," Pillay added, noting that some sources indicated that thousands have been killed.

At the Security Council, Mohamed Shalgham, the Libyan ambassador to the U.N., who had initially hesitated to speak out against Gadhafi, today called on the international community to act against him.

In an emotional speech, he told the council that Gadhafi and his sons "are telling the people that 'either I rule you or I kill you.' We need a courageous resolution from you."