LIBYA: United Nations delegation questions Libyan government on human rights violations, including indiscriminate bombing and use of mercenaries and torture

Record ID: 785417

  • Title: LIBYA: United Nations delegation questions Libyan government on human rights violations, including indiscriminate bombing and use of mercenaries and torture
  • Date: 28th April 2011
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (APRIL 27, 2011) (REUTERS) LIBYAN AND UNITED NATIONS FLAGS IN MEETING ROOM MEETING BETWEEN LIBYAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND UNITED NATIONS FACT-FINDING DELEGATION U.N. DELEGATION CHAIRMAN MAHMOUD CHERIF BASSIOUNI LISTENS TO LIBYAN DELEGATION LIBYAN DELEGATION BASSIOUNI LISTENS CHAIRMAN OF LIBYAN DELEGATION HOLDS PUBLICATION PUBLICATION BEING HANDED OVER TO BASSIOUNI LIBYAN AND U.N. FLAGS OUTSIDE MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRMAN OF UNITED NATIONS DELEGATION MAHMOUD CHERIF BASSIOUNI SAYING "Here to inquire and find out from the Libyan government side what its position is with respect to several types of violations which are generally known to the media but which we have also discovered during our field investigation in the east side of Libya as well as on the borders between Libya and Egypt and the borders between Libya and Tunisia. So we have a number of questions dealing with: indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, civilian casualties, torture, the use of mercenaries and other questions of the sort. This meeting was an opportunity for the government to hear about it; I have also given them a list of all the foreign journalists who have been held, who are in detention and have asked them to have an opportunity to visit them and to ask why they should not be released immediately and hopefully this initiative will have some impact on the detained journalists." LIBYAN JUSTICE MINISTRY SYMBOL ON WALL VARIOUS OF LIBYAN JUSTICE MINISTER ADDRESSING U.N. DELEGATION BASSIOUNI LISTENS MEETING UNDERWAY
  • Embargoed: 13th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA22C13T2OX8HPWPOVV5B0SS0LJ
  • Story Text: A team of United Nations investigators sought answers on Wednesday (April 27) from Libyan officials about allegations forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had committed human rights violations.
    The three-member commission of inquiry met Libyan officials and said it would be pressing for access to prisons, hospitals and areas of the country where it suspects rights abuses are taking place.
    "We have a number of questions dealing with indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, civilian casualties, torture and the use of mercenaries and other questions," said Cherif Bassiouni, an Egyptian legal expert and member of the commission, after talks with Libyan officials.
    Asked what access the U.N. team was expected to be given by the Libyan authorities, Bassiouni said they did not know that yet but that access had been requested in writing and verbally.
    Bassiouni said they intended to push for it.
    The United Nations, Western governments and some Arab states accuse Gaddafi of ordering his security forces to kill hundreds of civilians who rose up in protest against his four-decade rule.
    Libyan officials deny killing civilians, saying security forces were forced to act against armed gangs and al Qaeda sympathisers who, they say, are trying to seize control of the oil exporting country.
    Bassiouni said he would also use the delegation's visit to Tripoli to raise the issue of foreign journalists being held in in Libya.
    Libyan authorities are holding two U.S. journalists, one Spaniard, a South African and a Canadian, according to the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Officials say they only hold journalists if they are in the country illegally.
    "I have also given them a list of all the foreign journalists who have been held, who are in detention and have asked them to have an opportunity to visit them and to ask why they should not be released immediately and hopefully this initiative will have some impact on the detained journalists," Bassiouni said.
    The commission of inquiry was set up in February by the U.N.'s Human Rights Council, and is due to submit its report on rights violations in Libya by June.
    Bassiouni said the commission has already carried out field investigations in rebel-controlled eastern Libya, as well as on Libya's borders, and was planning further trips to Tripoli.
    END
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