UN chief urges political solution to Libyan crisis

[News_Editor]

UN chief urges political solution to Libyan crisis

2011-08-11 21:23:49 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Thursday called for a political solution to end the ongoing civil war in Libya, which has left thousands of people killed.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lamented the lack of progress in efforts to resolve Libya's ongoing conflict and called for a political solution. In a conversation with Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, Ban said he was "very troubled" that there had been an absolute lack of progress in the efforts to find a politically negotiated solution to the crisis, despite the efforts of his Special Envoy, Abdel-Elah Al-Khatib.

In addition, Ban said all sides must commit to a political process and urged al-Mahmoudi to respond constructively to the Special Envoy's ideas. He also expressed concern regarding the loss of innocent civilian lives as a result of the fighting and the lack of medical supplies and fuel, which added greater urgency to the need to address the humanitarian needs of the Libyan people.

Libya has been engulfed in fighting since a pro-democracy movement opposed to the regime of Muammar Gaddafi emerged in February following similar protests in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries across North Africa and the Middle East.

UN officials have repeatedly stated that a ceasefire tied to transitional arrangements which address the aspirations of the Libyan people is the only sustainable political solution to the crisis. However, the parties remain divided on how to reach a political solution to the conflict, which has caused an estimated 630,000 people to flee Libya since February and displaced another 200,000 within the country.

Contrary to Libyan media reports, however, the Secretary-General, who is currently on an official visit to North Korea, did not say he would invite the Security Council to convene a special session, the UN said.

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