Note: Excellent Middle East Update by Weasel.
Current Liveblog is here for up to date commentary on events in Libya.
Update: I've just heard that the Libyan ambassador to the UN, not his deputy who called for UN action yesterday, will be presenting to the UN Security Council meeting on Libya this afternoon. Ambassador Mohamed Shalgham appeared this morning and announced that he represents Libya:
He called Gadhafi "my friend" and said he had been speaking every hour with top government officials appealing for an end to the violence.
"I am asking them to stop this escalation, this bloodshed, and they are listening to me, they are respecting me. And I hope within 24 hours everything will be changed there," Shalgham said.
What did he hope will change in 24 hours?
"They will stop everything. They will stop this escalation, stop this crackdown," Shalgham said.
The ambassador said he would speak at Tuesday afternoon's meeting and deliver this message to council members.
Under intense questioning from reporters demanding to know who is responsible for the killing of protestors, the ambassador said: "All the regime is responsible. I am one from the regime, all of us we are responsible."
Shalgham said Gadhafi won't step down and insisted that the government has not been bombing civilians or using mercenaries.
Please make calls urging the US and the UN to stand strong and protect the Libyan people.
Responding to the escalating and brutal violence Muammar Gaddafi has wrought upon the Libyan people, the United Nations Security Council and the Arab League have called emergency meetings for this morning at 9 am and 10 am EDT respectively.
UN Security Council
The Security Council closed-door meeting was requested by the recently resigned Libyan deputy ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi who, with other diplomats at Libya's mission to the UN, announced on Monday a decision to side with the protesters in Libya and called for the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime. The Security Council includes five permanent members: People's Republic of China which replaced the Republic of China in 1971, France, Russian Federation which replaced the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991, United Kingdom, and the United States; and ten non-permanent members: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil. Colombia, Gabon, Germany, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, and South Africa.
Arab League
The Arab League will hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss the current crisis in Libya and to put additional "pressure" on the Gaddafi government. Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, called the meeting. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the escalating violence in Libya and told Gaddafi that it "must stop immediately” while in extensive discussions with him yesterday. The 22 members of the Arab League include Algeria, Bahrain, Manama, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia Riyal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
What Next?
Discussions in the Middle East/North Africa Liveblogs and Meteor Blades' diaries have also focused on what course should be taken to stop the violence in Libya. Many of us have expressed frustration, bewilderment, and anger at the silence coming from the White House and the State Department. It wasn't until the end of the day yesterday that Hillary Clinton finally strongly condemned the violence:
"The world is watching the situation in Libya with alarm. We join the international community in strongly condemning the violence in Libya. Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have been lost, and with their loved ones.
"The government of Libya has a responsibility to respect the universal rights of the people, including the right to free expression and assembly. Now is the time to stop this unacceptable bloodshed. We are working urgently with friends and partners around the world to convey this message to the Libyan government."
We never heard from President Obama.
Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern at the escalating scale of violence and emphasised that it must stop immediately. His chief spokesperson at the U.N. indicated that Ki-moon
reiterated his call for respect for basic freedoms and human rights, including peaceful assembly, and underlined the need to ensure the protection of the civilian population under any circumstances. He urged all parties to exercise restraint and called upon the authorities to engage in broad-based dialogue to address legitimate concerns of the population.
Discussions here about what course should be taken have examined a spectrum of options, ranging from suggestions that the U.S. should distance itself from the conflict to unilateral military intervention to a collaborative action as part of the Security Council and/or NATO, which might include establishing a no-fly zone, removing the Gaddafi regime, facilitating transition to a democratic government, allowing the regime to remain in power and enact reforms, to holding accountable those responsible for serious violations of international human rights law.
Personally, I agree with former British Foreign Secretary Lord Owen who appeared on CNN and the BBC unequivocally describing Gaddafi as "unbalanced" and concluding that the situation in Libya now represents a direct threat to world peace. Lord Owen stressed the urgency of a UN Security Council meeting that is now scheduled. He also told the
BBC "military action is the only thing Col Gaddafi and his sons are going to listen to." The military intervention I have in mind is to immediately establish a no-fly zone to prevent the Gaddafi regime from bringing in additional mercenaries. Others would take it further.
Call today NOW
Whatever your thoughts are about the best course, please call the White House, the State Department, your Congressional representatives, and the UN to urge them to take action to stop the horrific bloodshed and repression. Most important, call today NOW. The Libyan people have been under brutal attack for days. Hundreds have been murdered, thousands wounded, hospitals are overwhelmed, medical supplies have been depleted. We haven't a moment to waste.
Contact info follows below
Contact info for the WH, State Department, Congress, UN, and medical aid organizations is listed below If you have additional or better information please share it and I will edit the diary. Please also leave a comment telling us what happened when you made your calls. If you aren't able to call and instead sent an email, please consider sharing what you wrote with us; your words may embolden another.
The Poll
Kossack grannyhelen is curious about where the dkos community stands on the next step with Gaddafi and has devised a poll. Please register your opinion there too.
Do the Libyan People Want or Need Our Help
In case you are wondering if our help really is wanted and needed by the Libyan people:
ShababLibya LibyanYouthMovement
now we feel really helpless... #Libya #Feb17
Libyana Americana
Cyrenaican Libyana Americana
by monaeltahawy
"Im not afraid to die, Im afraid to lose the battle" a friend of mine in #Benghazi yesterday who was involved in battle for Fadheela #Libya
Cyrenaican Libyana Americana
by ShababLibya
Please, we need people to contact the Obama administration and the United Nations to demand they do something about Libya #Feb17 #Libya
Libyan4life
I can't believe people are wondering what the US the worlds SUPER POWER can do for #Libya. Are you kidding, u can't think of a thing? Food?
Food shortages, nonexistent medical supplies and continual killings make it a scary and grave situation in #Benghazi. #Libya wont give up!
iyad_elbaghdadi Iyad El-Baghdadi
by monaeltahawy
To clarify, Libyans do not want any Western power to intervene or interfere, just want to hear someone denounce Gaddafi for killing them
Supporters of the Libyan people gathered outside the WH on Saturday to deliver this message to President Obama:
There will be another protest at the WH today. If anyone has info regarding the time, please post it below the tipjar and I will add it to the diary.
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