UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday told the Security Council that Libyan government troops are disregarding a UN ceasefire order despite heavy bombing of Moamer Qadhafi's forces by an international coalition.
"Libyan authorities have repeatedly claimed they have instituted a ceasefire," Ban said at UN headquarters in New York. "We see no evidence that that is the case. On the contrary, fierce battles have continued." Reporting to the council on implementation of a resolution authorizing the use of force to end Qadhafi's campaign against armed rebels, Ban said the Libyan government had not "taken steps to carry out their obligations." France's ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud, echoed Ban, saying Qadhafi had failed to listen to the United Nations.
"We don't want words, we want actions," Araud said after the council meeting. "Colonel Qadhafi must accept a ceasefire immediately." Ban also said that human rights abuses continued in Libya and that "those responsible for crimes against their people will be held accountable."
"We continue to have serious concerns, however, about protection of civilians, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and access of civilian populations to basic commodities and services in areas currently under siege," he said. The Security Council was meeting amid growing outcry from opponents of the Western-led bombing campaign. Russia and other countries have attacked the bombing as disproportionate, while the United States and its European allies say that air strikes are being carefully targeted to avoid harm to civilians. Ban told the council: "I expect the international community to continue to exercise full diligence in avoiding civilian casualties and collateral damage." Referring to growing rifts over how to prosecute the war against Qadhafi's armed forces, Ban emphasized "how important it is for the international community to speak with one voice, both in implementing resolution 1973 and in dealing with the humanitarian situation." Libyan authorities say that almost 100 civilians have died in the now week-long aerial onslaught. An unknown number of Libyan service personnel have been killed. On Thursday, a senior US commander, General Carter Ham, said he "cannot be sure there have been no civilian casualties. We are being very, very precise and discriminating in our targeting." Araud acknowledged that in the council meeting "some countries were raising their concerns about civilian casualties." But he said that was "normal." Ban said that defiance by the Libyan authorities may lead to further international pressure.
"The Security Council may take additional measures if Libyan authorities would not fully comply with the Security Council resolutions," he said. He did not give details. Meanwhile, amid public wrangling between US and European allies over who should be in charge of the operation, the western military alliance NATO announced it would enforce the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya.
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