"The situation is very serious, it is absolutely necessary that the ICC is also involved, it can give a very strong signal," she said, adding that there have been "several hundred deaths" in the Libyan regime's bloody crackdown although it is not possible to give a precise death toll.

"There can be no impunity," she said, adding that sanctions could include travel bans for members of Libyan ruler Moamer Gaddafi's regime or financial measures."I would like there to be a strong (Security Council) resolution in response to Gaddafi's calls to murder," she said, while remaining prudent on the possibility of imposing a no fly zone over Libya. The Libyan military has reportedly been turning its hardware on protesters, including using warplanes to bomb and strafe demonstrators. The Security Council is expected to meet Friday at 2000 GMT, the minister said on French public radio.