Clinton Condemns Libyan Violence, Calls for Accountability

Clinton Condemns Libyan Violence, Calls for Accountability

By MacKenzie C. Babb
Staff Writer

Washington - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called for Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi to be held accountable for opening fire on peaceful protesters and other violent acts that "violate international legal obligations and common decency."

In remarks to the U.N. Human Rights Council ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2011/February/20110228131803su0.3648907.html ) in Geneva February 28, Clinton said Qadhafi's security forces have used "heavy weapons on unarmed civilians," and that "mercenaries and thugs have been turned loose to attack demonstrators."

"There are reports of soldiers executed for refusing to turn their guns on their fellow citizens, of indiscriminate killings, arbitrary arrests and torture," she said.

Libya has been seized with civil strife that began with a nonviolent revolt against the government February 15. Now most of the eastern half of the North African nation is under the control of rebelling Libyans, and street fighting has spread to the borders of the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

Clinton commended the February 25 decision by the Human Rights Council to establish an independent commission of inquiry on the situation in Libya and praised the unanimous February 26 decision by the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2011/February/20110227114358su0.4444478.html ) "imposing an arms embargo on Libya, freezing the assets of key human rights violators ... and referring the Libyan case to the International Criminal Court." She also applauded the Arab League for being the first multilateral organization to suspend Libya's membership.

"The international community is speaking with one voice, and our message is unmistakable. These violations of universal rights are unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Clinton said.

She called for the U.N. General Assembly to vote March 1 to accept the recommendation to suspend the Qadhafi government's participation in the Human Rights Council. The secretary said the United States has imposed travel restrictions and financial sanctions on Qadhafi, his family and senior Libyan officials. She said the United States and its allies have joined the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent and other nongovernmental organizations to set up a "robust humanitarian response" to the crisis.

"We all need to work together on further steps to hold the Qadhafi government accountable, provide humanitarian assistance to those in need, and support the Libyan people as they pursue a transition to democracy," Clinton said.

She called on leaders in Libya and across the Middle East to hold free and fair elections, to cultivate a vibrant civil society that can hold the government accountable, and to make economic opportunity available to all.

"Without meaningful steps toward representative, accountable and transparent governance and open economies, the gap between people and their leaders will only grow, and instability will only deepen," Clinton said.

She added that, ultimately, it will be the people of Libya who chart their own destiny and shape their new government, and she repeated the U.S. commitment to support the citizens and governments of the region "as they work for progress."

ENDS

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