The United Nations' human rights forum on Friday condemned violence by Libyan forces against protesters and launched an international inquiry to investigate atrocities which it said may amount to crimes against humanity.
The United Nations' human rights forum on Friday condemned violence by Libyan forces against protesters and launched an international inquiry to investigate atrocities which it said may amount to crimes against humanity.
The 47-member UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopted a resolution, put forth by numerous delegations, that denounced armed attacks on civilians, killings, arrests, and the detention and torture of peaceful demonstrators.
It also called on the UN General Assembly to consider suspending Libya's right to membership in the Geneva forum in view of "gross and systematic violations of human rights by the Libyan authorities".
A two-thirds majority in the General Assembly would be required for the unprecedented suspension in the Human Rights Council, which was set up nearly five years ago.
Hungarian ambassador Andras Dekany, speaking for the European Union, said he looked forward to when a "future legitimate government genuinely representing the will of the Libyan people and upholding human rights standards befitting this forum could be welcomed back into the Council".
UN high commissioner for human rights Navi Pillay called for international intervention to stop mass killings.
She said thousands of people may have been killed or injured in the mounting violence against anti-government protesters, including shots to the head or chest.
"I always call for independent investigations as a start, but I think in this particular situation, there's need for more state action and intervention for protection (of civilians)," Pillay, a former UN war crimes judge, told Reuters Television.
Earlier, a Libyan envoy to the Geneva forum renounced links to the government of Muammar Gaddafi, announcing that his entire delegation now represented the "free will" of the Libyan people.
Diplomats in the hall applauded the surprise announcement by Adel Shaltut, a diplomat at Libya's delegation to the United Nations in Geneva, during the one-day special session on the Libyan crisis.
"We in the Libyan mission have categorically decided to serve as representatives of the Libyan people and their free will. We only represent the Libyan people," he said.
US human rights ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe walked over to shake hands with the Libyan envoy and was heard to pledge Washington's support.
In a speech to the Geneva body, she said Washington saluted the courage and determination of Libyans who opposed their "repressive government".
"From air force pilots who have refused to carry out unconscionable orders, to Libyan diplomats who have spoken out against their government's atrocities, to the men and women who peacefully assemble in the street with aspirations to a better life -- the United States stands with you in support of freedom, justice and the dignity of all people," Donahoe said.
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