UN Security Council meets on sanctions against Libya (Second Lead, Changing dateline)

NEW YORK - The UN Security Council came together Saturday to discuss a draft resolution that would impose an arms embargo on Libya and a travel ban on designated individuals, in reaction to continued armed attacks on civilian protesters.

Diplomats said the 15-nation council would act on the draft if its closed-door discussion resulted in an agreement on the measures against the regime of Libyan strongman Muammer Gaddafi. The sanctions aim at ending the bloodshed in Libya, the UN said.

The draft also calls for an asset freeze for members of the Gaddafi regime. The individuals to be targeted would be discussed by a committee on sanctions to be set up at a later stage.

The draft calls on the council to enact the sanctions under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows use of force to implement the measures.

Chapter 7 has in the past been used to deploy peacekeeping missions and conduct military operations in Iraq and Somalia.

The draft demands an “immediate end to the violence and for steps to address the legitimate demands of the population” in Libya.

Libyan authorities are to act “with restraint, respect human rights and international humanitarian law, and allow immediate access for international human rights monitors”.

The draft additionally calls for an immediate lifting of restrictions “on all forms of media” and for the safety of foreign nationals to be ensured and their departure facilitated.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Friday had urged the council to adopt “concrete action” to stop the bloodshed in Libya, as the US agreed to order unilateral measures against Gaddafi.