UN Security Council passed unanimously on Saturday a resolution that imposes severe penalties to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan regime his family and his close supporters.
The sanctions adopted by the 15 Member States include in particular a ban on the sale to Libya of arms and any related materiel and travel ban on the territory of member countries to 16 people, including Muammar Gaddafi, seven sons and daughter and people strongly linked to the regime, such as Gaddafi’s personal security chief and defence minister or the head of the military secret service.
According to the resolution, the Security Council considers that “systematic attacks” against civilians in Libya today “can be assimilated to crimes against humanity”.
Security Council decided to transfer to the International Criminal Court prosecutor the “situation in Libya since February 15″ and ask the Libyan authorities to ” fully cooperate” with the tribunal in The Hague. This has been the subject of lengthy discussions between Member States, some raising objections, according to several diplomats.
Council members also demanded immediate cessation of violence and also taking steps to address the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people. It calls the Libyan authorities to act “with utmost restraint”, “to ensure the safety of all foreigners”, “to ensure safe passage of humanitarian and medical aid” and “to immediately lift all restrictions on all forms of media”.
Member States have finally decided to impose the freezing of financial assets on Colonel Gaddafi, four of his sons and a friend of the regime.
Voting took place in the presence of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.