United Nations, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Saturday imposing sanctions on Libya, including an arms embargo against the country and a travel ban and asset freeze against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his key family members.
The Security Council also expressed “grave concern” at the current situation in Libya, and called for “an immediate end to the violence and for steps to address the legitimate demands of the population” in the North African country.
The Security Council decides that “all member states shall immediately take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya … of arms and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts,” the resolution said.
The travel ban is to be imposed on Gaddafi, his key family members, including Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam, and high-ranking officials of the Tripoli regime, the resolution said.
The Security Council “decides that all member states shall freeze without delay all funds, other financial assets and economic resources which are on their territories, which are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly,” by the listed individuals or entities of Libya, the resolution said.
“Member states shall ensure that any funds, financial assets or economic resources are prevented from being made available by their nationals or by any individuals or entities within their territories,” the resolution said.
The Security Council decided to set up a new sanctions committee to monitor the implementation of the new UN actions against Libya, the resolution said.
The resolution was adopted after the Security Council met early Saturday in an emergency session to consider actions against Libya before the vote late Saturday on a draft resolution, co-sponsored by Bosnia, Britain, Colombia, France, Gabon, Germany, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa and the United States.
The adoption came one day after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for early “concrete action” by the 15-nation Security Council.
In the resolution, the council voiced “concern for the safety of foreign nationals in Libya,” and called on the Libyan authorities to “ensure the safety of all foreign nationals and facilitate the departure of those wishing to leave the country.”
It called on the Libyan authorities to “act with restraint, respect human rights and international humanitarian law, and allow immediate access for international human rights monitors.”
The council also urged the Libyan authorities to “ensure the safe passage of humanitarian and medical supplies, and humanitarian agencies and workers, into the country,” the resolution said.
The council took the move hours after Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam warned of a possible civil war in his country and foreign intervention in the internal affairs of Libya.
“What the Libyan nation is going through has opened the door to all options, and now the signs of civil war and foreign interference have started,” al-Salam told Al Arabiya TV in an interview.
