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UN Security Council orders sanctions against Libya

27 February 2011 04:16 (UTC +04:00)

The council voted 15-0 to adopt a resolution that invokes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, allowing use of force to implement the sanctions. Chapter 7 has in the past been used to deploy peacekeeping missions and conduct military operations in Iraq and Somalia.

The UN sanctions committee will also designate individuals to be subject to a travel ban and have their assets in foreign countries frozen, the council said.

One sticking point in discussions on the draft earlier in the day had been the provision to refer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Libyaâ€™s "widespread and systematic" attacks on civilian protesters, which amounted to crimes against humanity.

China and apparently other members opposed the reference to the ICC, delaying the completion of the draft. Diplomats said a compromise had kept the ICC reference in the draft, but the said referal would not be undertaken immediately.

The UN estimates more than 1,000 protesters have been killed by forces loyal to Gaddafi since pro-democracy demonstrations erupted on February 15, emulating the events in Tunisia and Egypt, which ended with the overthrow of presidents who had held power for decades.

The council demanded an "immediate end to the violence and for steps to address the legitimate demands of the population" in Libya.

It called for Libyan authorities to act "with restraint, respect human rights and international humanitarian law," and facilitate immediate access for international human rights monitors.

The council called for an immediate lifting of restrictions "on all forms of media" and for the safety of foreign nationals to be assured and their departure facilitated.

Under the arms embargo, UN members will take immediate and necessary measures to "prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to Libya ... of arms and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment."

Libya would be prohibited from importing all arms and related material and all UN members should prevent their nationals from exporting them.