The appeal was issued in Geneva by the deputy to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, currently in West Africa, as major powers squabbled over whether to impose a no-fly over Libya..
“The government of Col. Qaddafi...has chosen to attack civilians with massive, indiscriminate force. The responsibility to protect them now falls on the international community,” deputy high commissioner Kyung-wha Kang said in a speech.
The UN Security Council met Monday to review the Arab League’s request for a no-fly zone in Libya, but no resolution was expected yet.
Diplomats at the meeting requested by Lebanon were expected to discuss the request during a briefing by UN political chief B. Lynn Pascoe, diplomats said on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.
Britain and France have drafted a council resolution on creating a no-fly zone, but it has not been circulated yet.
“Now that there is this Arab League statement we do hope it’s a game changer for the other members of the council,” French Ambassador Gerard Araud said while heading into the meeting. “We do hope that these resolutions will allow us to later this week work on the resolution.” Rather than a project by France and Britain, Araud said he expects the lead on the resolution will be assumed by Libya’s neighbors. “It will be the Arab League, Lebanon working with other members of the rest of the council,” he said.
Lebanese Ambassador Nawaf Salam said that he circulated the Arab League’s weekend communique calling for a no-fly zone to the rest of the council’s 15 members by e-mail.
Diplomats for more cautious members of the council said on background that they hoped to use the morning consultations to review additional political and financial sanctions on Libya The council last month imposed an arms embargo on the North African country, and levied an assets freeze and travel ban on Qaddafi and some of his relatives and associates. The EU, the United States and other countries have also imposed their own sanctions.
As the diplomatic wrangling continues, Muammar Qaddafi’s jets pounded rebel positions on Monday, aiding a counter-offensive that has pushed insurgents 100 miles (160 km) eastwards in a week.
Four people died in the rebel-held western Libyan town of Zuwarah after a heavy bombardment, Al-Arabiya TV reported on Monday.
The brief report did not give further details and did not make clear the identities of those killed.
Forces loyal to Qaddafi attacked on Monday the small Mediterranean coastal town of Zuwarah, located some 120 km (70 miles) west of the capital Tripoli and near the border with Tunisia, residents said.
Qaddafi’s government, at first reeling from widespread popular uprisings last month, is now confident of success. “We are certain of our victory, whatever the price,” state TV said.
Government troops took Brega on Sunday, but the rebels said they had moved back into the oil terminal town during the night and surrounded Qaddafi’s troops.
“Some of them (government troops) have been killed and some have been captured. But they are still in Brega. It is still dangerous and there is still fighting but today we will squeeze them hard,” said Idriss Kadiki, a rebel fighter.
Behind rebel lines, Libyan planes bombed Ajdabiyah on Monday, the only sizeable town between Brega and the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. From Ajdabiyah there are roads to Benghazi and to Tobruk to the east, which could allow Qaddafi’s troops to encircle Benghazi.
There is now a very real possibility that by the time world powers agree on a response to the conflict in Libya, Qaddafi’s forces may already have won, analysts said.
France wants a Group of Eight foreign ministers meeting it is hosting later on Monday to reach an agreement so the UN Security Council can move toward sanctioning a no-fly zone.
The Arab League has already backed a no-fly zone satisfying one of three conditions set by NATO for it to police Libyan air space, that of regional support. The other two are proof its help is needed, and a Security Council resolution.
News of humanitarian suffering or atrocities could persuade more powers that help is needed and also spur the Security Council into action. But while Human Rights Watch has reported a wave of arbitrary arrests and disappearances in Tripoli, hard evidence is so far largely lacking.
“Everyone here is puzzled as to how many casualties the international community judges to be enough for them to help. Maybe we should start committing suicide to reach the required number,” said rebel spokesman Essam Gheriani in Benghazi.
“It is shameful,” he said. “We are hoping today for some development such as a resolution” at the Security Council.
At the United Nations, a diplomat told Reuters the Security Council would hold consultations on a no-fly zone on Monday.
Russia and China, diplomats said, would have difficulty vetoing a no-fly zone when the Arab League had requested it. Envoys said Moscow and Beijing might abstain on the issue.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday banned Qaddafi and his family from Russia and from carrying out financial transactions there.
While Russia has opposed military intervention in Libya, it has not ruled out a no-fly zone as long as it is backed by the Security Council. Moscow has asked for details of the Arab League proposal, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
If the Security Council does endorse a no-fly zone, enforcing it will fall largely to the United States, which has remained cautious over direct military intervention and has yet to decide whether to back a no-fly zone.
“That is a decision, a political decision ultimately, that has not been taken,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told MSNBC television. He added that a no-fly zone was still, however, an option under consideration.
