The U.N. Security Council voted in the past few hours to halt Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi‘s deadly crackdown on protesters, placing sanctions on him and his 5 children and 10 closest associates.
In a unanimous vote following hectic discussions, an asset freeze on Gadhafi, his four sons and one daughter and a travel ban on the whole family along with 10 other close associates. The council also backed an arms embargo. UN Security Council members also agreed 15-0 to refer the Gadhafi regime‘s deadly crackdown on people protesting his rule to a permanent war crimes tribunal for an investigation of possible crimes against humanity.
The council said its actions were aimed at “deploring the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including the repression of peaceful demonstrators.” Council members expressed concern about civilian deaths, “rejecting unequivocally the incitement to hostility and violence against the civilian population made from the highest level of the Libyan government.”
The Libyan uprising started on February 15, 2011 and has swept over nearly the entire eastern half of the country, breaking cities there out of his regime‘s hold. Gadhafi and his backers continue to hold the capital Tripoli and have threatened to put down protests aggressively. Reports have surfaced that government forces have been firing indiscriminately on peaceful protesters and that as many as 1,000 people have been slaughtered.
The U.S. put an immediate freeze on all assets of the Libyan government held in American banks and other U.S. institutions. The sanctions also freeze assets held by Gadhafi and four of his children. Great Britain and Canada temporarily suspended operations at their embassies in Tripoli and evacuated their diplomatic staff.
