UN chief calls for immediate truce in Libya
The secretary-general, who is on a visit to Guatamala, issued a statement via his spokesman here shortly after the Security Council passed a resolution to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya and called for "all necessary measures," excluding troops on the ground, to protect civilians under threat of attack in the North African country. The draft was adopted as Resolution 1973 with 10 voting in favor and five abstentions.
"Once again, I join the Council in calling for an immediate cease-fire (in Libya), a halt to all attacks on civilians and full humanitarian access to those in need," Ban said in the statement. "Our strenuous diplomatic efforts will continue."
Also on Thursday, the UN chief's special envoy for Libya, Abdelilah Al-Khatib, met in Cairo, Egypt, with the secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, after his visit to the Libyan capital of Triopli.
Ban, in the statement, said that the special envoy "will brief me this weekend on the results of his conversations. I myself will travel to the region to advance our common efforts in this critical hour."
The secretary-general is scheduled to visit Tunisia and Egypt this week, where he is expected to discuss the latest developments in some countries in North Africa and the Middle East, including the current situation of Libya.
See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.
