World leaders studied punitive measures to take against Moamer Qadhafi on Thursday as the Libyan strongman’s crackdown against opponents grew more desperate. The UN Security Council will meet again Friday to discuss the crisis and USPresident Barack Obama has already discussed possible measures with France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy and the British and Italian Prime ministers David Cameron and Silvio Berlusconi. Diplomats said they are studying a possible no-fly zone over Libya, as well as a travel ban and assets freeze against the Qadhafi family amid mounting concern over the growing death toll.“All options are on the table. We are not ruling anything out,” a Western diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The 15-nation council is determined to show international anger after Qadhafi rejected calls from Obama, other heads of state and the Security Council itself for a halt to the violence, diplomats said.
But they noted that sanctions are unlikely to be announced or agreed by Friday’s meeting, when UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will address UN envoys.
Ban has already expressed outrage over Qadhafi’s actions and warned of international action against those responsible for the violence.
Obama and Sarkozy, who spoke by phone, renewed their call for an end to the “continuing brutal and bloody repression and to the threatening statements of the Libyan leadership,” the French presidency said.
“The two presidents reiterated their demand for an immediate halt to the use of force against the civilian population.”
In a separate conversation, Obama and the British prime minister promised to “coordinate on possible multilateral measures on Libya,” Cameron’s office said in a statement.
The joint action would include moves at the UN Human Rights Council where western nations are seeking to have Libya thrown off the body, which meets in Geneva on Friday. Cameron has already called for a UN resolution on Libya.
The Security Council released a statement on Tuesday condemning the Qadhafi regime’s crackdown and calling for action against those responsible for the violence that some fear may have killed up to 1,000 people.
“Violence against civilians and repression against people and demonstrators just has to stop,” said Germany’s UN envoy Peter Wittig. “Apparently, the regime in Tripoli did not heed the call of the Security Council.
“So we have really got to think about further action and that is what we emphasized.”
Though diplomats stressed there was unity on the council about the need for new measures, some have said sanctions are likely to be left first to the European Union and United States.
“There was a clear sense that Security Council members want to continue the momentum in terms of the strong unanimity that the council has to address this violence,” said another Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Council members agreed that options need to be put on the table” to use against Libya, the diplomat added.
China traditionally resists sanctions against individual sovereign countries, but a Chinese diplomat said his country was ready to “consider” further action.
The European Union and United States have already threatened sanctions against Libya. The EU is considering an arms embargo and other measures.
Washington has said it could impose measures alone or with other countries.
The 15-nation council is determined to show international anger after Qadhafi rejected calls from Obama, other heads of state and the Security Council itself for a halt to the violence, diplomats said.
But they noted that sanctions are unlikely to be announced or agreed by Friday’s meeting, when UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will address UN envoys.
Ban has already expressed outrage over Qadhafi’s actions and warned of international action against those responsible for the violence.
Obama and Sarkozy, who spoke by phone, renewed their call for an end to the “continuing brutal and bloody repression and to the threatening statements of the Libyan leadership,” the French presidency said.
“The two presidents reiterated their demand for an immediate halt to the use of force against the civilian population.”
In a separate conversation, Obama and the British prime minister promised to “coordinate on possible multilateral measures on Libya,” Cameron’s office said in a statement.
The joint action would include moves at the UN Human Rights Council where western nations are seeking to have Libya thrown off the body, which meets in Geneva on Friday. Cameron has already called for a UN resolution on Libya.
The Security Council released a statement on Tuesday condemning the Qadhafi regime’s crackdown and calling for action against those responsible for the violence that some fear may have killed up to 1,000 people.
“Violence against civilians and repression against people and demonstrators just has to stop,” said Germany’s UN envoy Peter Wittig. “Apparently, the regime in Tripoli did not heed the call of the Security Council.
“So we have really got to think about further action and that is what we emphasized.”
Though diplomats stressed there was unity on the council about the need for new measures, some have said sanctions are likely to be left first to the European Union and United States.
“There was a clear sense that Security Council members want to continue the momentum in terms of the strong unanimity that the council has to address this violence,” said another Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Council members agreed that options need to be put on the table” to use against Libya, the diplomat added.
China traditionally resists sanctions against individual sovereign countries, but a Chinese diplomat said his country was ready to “consider” further action.
The European Union and United States have already threatened sanctions against Libya. The EU is considering an arms embargo and other measures.
Washington has said it could impose measures alone or with other countries.
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