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Security Council condemns violence against Libyan protesters

23 February 2011 02:18 (UTC +04:00)

The 15-nation Security Council issued a statement, read by its president, Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribiero Viotti, expressing "grave concern" about the situation and calling for accountability in the use of force against civilians.

"The members of the Security Council condemn the violence and use of force against the people and deplore the repression of peaceful demonstrators," Viotti said.

"(Council members) expressed deep regrets at the deaths of hundreds of civilians. They call for an immediate end of the violence and first steps to address the legitimate demands of the population."

Viotti said the council urged Libyan authorities to respect human rights and freedoms of the press and assembly. The council demanded that humanitarian workers have access to those in need and that medical supplies be allowed into the country.

The council held closed-door consultations. The UN undersecretary general for political affairs, B Lynn Pascoe, gave updated council members on developments on the ground in Libya, where UN personnel continue to work.

Pascoe told reporters that he briefed the council on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s activities in recent days. He said the UN mission in Libya is not equipped nor has the resources to independently confirm in detail the popular protests or the death toll.

He said there had been reports of planes and helicopters flying overhead and tanks rumbling down the streets in Tripoli, but the UN was not in the position to confirm either.

"We believe strongly that there must be a stop, and the very idea of attacks on civilians is totally unacceptable," Pascoe said.

"We agree with the characterization that the situation may get worse," he said, noting that the UN was very worried about the safety of its staff.

The United States on Tuesday called for a united front in confronting Libya’s use of violence against pro-democracy protesters.

White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters, while travelling with President Barack Obama to Cleveland, Ohio, that the US wanted to forge a unified front against Libya’s defiant strongman Moamer Gaddafi.

"We look forward to working with the international community so that the international community speaks with one voice in condemning the violence," Carney said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon telephoned with Gaddafi on Monday, urging him to stop the violence, respect human rights and heed popular aspirations.

In Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday issued similar calls.

"The callousness with which Libyan authorities and their hired guns are reportedly shooting live rounds of ammunition at peaceful protestors is unconscionable," Pillay said.

"I am extremely worried that lives are being lost even as I speak. The international community must unite in condemnation of such acts and make unequivocal commitments to ensure justice is rendered to the thousands of victims of this repression."

Opposition groups and the Arab media spoke of more than 560 dead and 1,400 people missing since the unrest began in the North African country. A Rome-based group representing Arab expatriates said some 1,000 people had been killed by Libyan security forces in bombing raids.