France puts Gaddafi accounts under surveillance

PARIS - France has placed all bank accounts belonging to Libyan leader Muammer Gaddafi and members of his inner circle under surveillance, the finance ministry department responsible for money laundering said Saturday.

All financial institutions have been asked to report any suspicious accounts, the Tracfin department said.

France has repeatedly called for sanctions against Libya’s leaders after a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests in the country.

The European Union is expected to make a formal decision on sanctions next week.