- Title: USA: U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon condemns violence in Libya
- Date: 23rd February 2011
- Summary: BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 21, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF UN SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON SITTING WITH ADVISORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAN KI-MOON, UN SECRETARY GENERAL, SAYING: "Like you and many others around the world, I have seen very disturbing and shocking scenes, where Libyan authorities have been firing at demonstrators from warplanes and helicopters. This is unacceptable. This must stop immediately. This is a serious violation of international humanitarian law." CUTAWAY OF MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAN KI-MOON, UN SECRETARY GENERAL, SAYING: "As I have been repeatedly saying, it is important and imperative that the leaders in the region should attentively listen to the aspirations, concerns and grievances of the people. And they should provide good opportunities for all the people - young people, and women. It is also imperative to immediately stop violence against peaceful demonstrators." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) BAN KI-MOON, UN SECRETARY GENERAL, SAYING: "As I said extensively to Colonel [Muammar] Gaddafi this morning over the phone, I urged him that human rights and freedom of assembly and freedom of speech must be fully protected. This is a fundamental principle of democracy. I sincerely hope that the current situation will be resolved peacefully through dialogue -- a broad-based dialogue involving all the parties concerned." BAN KI MOON LEAVING ROOM VARIOUS OF BAN KI-MOON MEETING WITH ADVISORS
- Embargoed: 10th March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa, Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA59KAQQWZD3BIQEGB67OCOMY7F
- Story Text: U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon spoke to media in Los Angeles about his nearly hour long telephone conversation with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told reporters that it is imperative that Libya immediately stop the violence against peaceful protesters.
The Secretary General spoke of his conversation with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, saying that he "urged him that human rights and freedom of assembly and freedom of speech must be fully protected. This is a fundamental principle of democracy," said Ban Ki-Moon. "I sincerely hope that the current situation will be resolved peacefully through dialogue -- a broad-based dialogue involving all the parties concerned."
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi fought an increasingly bloody battle to hang on to power on Monday (February 21) when protests against his 41-year rule struck the capital Tripoli after days of violence in the east. No independent verification of the reports was available and communications with Libya from outside were difficult.
Ban also made clear that violence against protesters, which has reportedly included gunfire from warplanes and helicopters, should cease.
"Like you and many others around the world, I have seen very disturbing and shocking scenes, where Libyan authorities have been firing at demonstrators from warplanes and helicopters. This is unacceptable. This must stop immediately," said Ban. "This is a serious violation of international humanitarian law."
The Secretary General made his remarks while visiting Los Angeles to attend a forum to discuss climate change and environment, and the empowerment of women and protection of children, with the creative community.
The U.N. Security Council has announced they will meet Tuesday (February 22) to discuss the crisis in Libya. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
