UN envoy in Tripoli demands end to Libya conflict



UNITED NATIONS- A UN special envoy on the Libya conflict arrived in Tripoli on Monday and demanded an end to violence and "unfettered" access to civilians, a UN spokesman said.
The envoy, Abdul Ilah Khatib, met the foreign minister in Moamer Kadhafi's regime and reaffirmed demands made by the UN Security Council and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for "an immediate end" to the violent clampdown against the opposition, said UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.



UN envoy in Tripoli demands end to Libya conflict
Khatib, the former foreign minister of Jordan who has been given a mixed political-humanitarian mission to end hostilities and open up access to civilians, "called for cooperation from the authorities on human rights and humanitarian concerns," Haq said.
"The special envoy requested that the Libyan government allow unfettered access to all relevant UN agencies in order to be able to assist the Libyan people and alleviate the suffering of those affected."
Khatib met Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa and other senior Libyan officials who assured him "that the government would fully cooperate" with an inquiry commission into the Libyan revolt set up by the UN Human Rights Council.
Rights groups say thousands have been killed in Libya since Kadhafi started a crackdown against protesters and his forces launched an offensive against rebel held areas.
The UN Security Council has passed sanctions against the Libyan regime and the Arab League has joined Britain and France in calling for the council to order a no-fly zone over Libya.
The UN also has a special humanitarian coordinator in Libya, Rashid Khalikov, who briefed Khatib about his talks and field visits to assess the country's humanitarian needs, Haq said.
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Tuesday, March 15th 2011
AFP
           


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