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Libya

UN Security Council considers Kadhafi sanctions

The UN Security Council will consider Saturday passing a sanctions resolution against Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, after the US imposed sanctions Friday, and Libya’s ambassador to the UN called on the council to act against Kadhafi, his childhood friend. 

Reuters/Osman Orsal
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"Please, the United Nations, save Libya," Mohammed Shalgham, Libya's ambassador to the UN, a childhood friend of Kadhafi’s, told the Security Council in a speech. He is the latest Kadhafi ally to defect from Libya.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has demanded decisive action by the Security Council. Britain, France, Germany and the US have drawn up a resolution which says the attacks on civilians could amount to crimes against humanity.

It calls for an arms embargo and a travel ban and assets freeze against Kadhafi, something that the European Union has already agreed to.

US President Barack Obama announced economic sanctions on Kadhafi and four of his sons on Friday.

"By any measure, Moamer Kadhafi's government has violated international norms and common decency and must be held accountable," Obama said in a statement. "These sanctions therefore target the Kadhafi government, while protecting the assets that belong to the people of Libya."

According to a 2010 message from the US embassy in Tripoli, published by WikiLeaks, Libya's sovereign wealth fund holds 32 billion dollars (44 billion) in cash and several American banks are managing 300-500 million dollars (412-687 million euros) each.

The sanctions specifically name Kadhafi and his four sons, Ayesa, Mutassimi, Seif al-Islam and Khamis, but no other Libyan official, a sign that Washington might be hoping to attract more defectors from Libya’s ruling elite.

The sanctions were announced after a ferry carrying nearly 300 US citizens left Libya and made it safely to Malta.

On Saturday a British Royal Navy frigate with 207 evacuees from more than 20 countries docked in Malta from Benghazi.

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