2/22/2011Ban "outraged" by planes firing at Libyans, discusses matter with "key" member states
UNITED NATIONS, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "outraged" at press reports that the Libyan authorities have been firing at demonstrators from war planes and helicopters, and said he was discussing the matter with "key" Member States, his press office said in a statement late Monday.
"Such attacks against civilians, if confirmed, would constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and would be condemned by the Secretary-General in the strongest terms," the statement added.
It reiterated Ban's call for an immediate end to the violence, and indicated that he "has been in close touch with key Member States about the developing situation," in an indirect reference to the US, Russia and some Arab states.
Earlier Monday, Ban expressed to Gaddafi in a phone call "deep concern" at the escalation of violence in the country and stressed the need to put an end to it "immediately." He reiterated his call for respect for basic freedoms and human rights, including peaceful assembly and information, his press office said in an ealier press statement.
The Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi earlier Monday called on the Security Council to impose a no-fly zone on all Libyan cities in order to cut off all supplies of arms and mercenaries to the regime, and to use the principle of the right to protect to take the necessary action to protect the Libyan people against the genocide.
He also called on the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to start immediately investigating the crimes committed by Libyan leader Muammar Al-Gaddafi, and on the Human Rights Council in Geneva to meet in an emergency session to study the situation in Libya and find a way to protect the Libyan people from the crimes against humanity and war crimes.
