UN urges immediate end to attacks against civilians in Libya

[News_Editor]

UN urges immediate end to attacks against civilians in Libya

2011-05-12 06:10:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for an immediate end to attacks against the civilian population in Libya.

Ban also told Al Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi, Libya's Prime Minister, that an immediate and verifiable ceasefire between authorities and opposition groups is necessary so that UN humanitarian workers can reach people in need.

"The Prime Minister agreed to receive my Special Envoy, Abdel Elah Al-Khatib, and I have instructed him to travel to Tripoli as soon as possible," added the Secretary-General.

The North African country has been marred with violence since February after protests emerged against the long-standing regime of Muammar al-Qadhafi. NATO took control of foreign military operations in Libya on March 31.

NATO acted under the UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorizes member states to take 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians in the North African country.

Ban also said that PM Al-Mahmoudi told him that the Libyan government was willing to agree to an immediate ceasefire, along with a monitoring team to be established jointly by the UN and the African Union.

"First and foremost, there should be an end of fighting in Misrata and elsewhere," said Ban. "Then, we will be able to provide humanitarian assistance and in parallel we can continue our political dialogue with the Gaddafi regime."

In addition, there have been continuing reports of people fleeing the fighting in Libya losing their lives at sea. The migrant crisis has affected Italy the most, as its southern island of Lampedusa is packed with Tunisian and Libyan asylum seekers.

"I ask patrol vessels in the Mediterranean not to wait for distress signals to offer help. Any boat leaving Libya should be considered a boat in need of assistance and protection," added Ban.

An estimated 615,000 people have fled the country so far, with more than 10,000 evacuated from the troubled city of Misrata. On April 27, a three-member panel, sent by the UN Human Rights Council, arrived in Libya to begin an investigation into the violence and human rights abuses.

The ongoing civil war between rebels and forces loyal to Gaddafi has so far claimed at least 2,000 lives since unrest began in mid-February. Other estimates put the death toll from all sides, including civilians, at up to 10,000.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-12