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Rediff.com  » News » US imposes sanctions on Libya; closes embassy at Tripoli

US imposes sanctions on Libya; closes embassy at Tripoli

By Lalit K Jha
February 26, 2011 03:53 IST
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Going ahead with unilateral sanctions against the Muammar Gaddafi regime, the US suspended its military ties with Libya and temporarily closed down its embassy in Tripoli. Toughening its stand against the authoritarian Libyan government, White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, said more measures against Libya are in the pipeline and would be announced in due course of time.

The US is also in talks with its international partners with regard to collective action against the Libyan regime including those at the United Nations. "There has never been a time when this much has been done quickly," Carney said, adding that the US which has very limited military relationship with Libya and also very limited military sales with them, both of which have been suspended.

"Col Gaddafi has lost the confidence of his people. His legitimacy has been reduced to zero in the eyes of his people," Carney said but was quick to add that it is a matter for the people of Libya to decide on the leadership of the country. The status quo is not acceptable," Carney said.

US President, Barack Obama, would meet the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, on Monday, he said. "Given current security conditions in Libya, coupled with our inability to guarantee fully the safety and security of our diplomatic personnel in the country, the Department of State has temporarily withdrawn Embassy personnel from Tripoli and suspended all embassy operations effective February 25, 2011," State Department spokesman P J Crowley said.

Additionally, the United States has suspended the very limited military cooperation it had with Libya. The US military began to cautiously reengage with Libya in 2009 following Libya's decision to halt its weapons of mass destruction programs and compensate victims of terrorism, he said.

Prior to the recent unrest, sales of spare military parts

were pending, he said adding that they have been frozen. "Bilateral military events that were in the planning phases have also been frozen," Carney said. The UN Human Rights Council held an emergency session in Geneva, where it adopted by consensus a resolution that condemned the gross and systematic human rights abuses now being committed by the government of Libya, established an international commission of inquiry to investigate these abuses, and recommended accountability measures for those responsible and also recommended that the UN General Assembly suspend Libya's membership on the council.

"The United States strongly supports these efforts and is already closely working with our international partners to carry out this suspension, which will be acted on by the General Assembly early next week," Carney said. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, will travel to Geneva on Monday to speak at the Human Rights Council and to discuss with her international counterparts further measures on Libya as well as events in the broader Middle East.

On Monday, Obama will meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Washington, and will discuss the diplomatic, legal and other actions needed to put a stop to violence against civilians in Libya. "He will also discuss the range of activities that UN agencies and the international community can undertake to address the significant humanitarian needs created by this crisis," Carney said.

The United States is involved in ongoing negotiations today at the UNSC Security Council, on a resolution that could include a weapons embargo, individual sanctions against key Libyan officials, and an asset freeze. The US is also utilising the full extent of its intelligence capabilities to monitor the Gaddafi regime's actions, and are particularly vigilant for evidence of further violence or atrocities committed against the Libyan people, Carney said.

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Lalit K Jha in Washington
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