London, March 25: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday told the Security Council that Libyan government troops are disregarding a UN ceasefire order, despite heavy bombing of Muammar Gaddafi’s forces by an international coalition.
“Libyan authorities have repeatedly claimed they have instituted a ceasefire,” Mr Ban said at UN headquarters in New York. “We see no evidence that that is the case. On the contrary, fierce battles have continued.”
Reporting to the council on implementation of a resolution authorising the use of force to end Mr Gaddafi’s onslaught against armed rebels, Mr Ban said the Libyan government had not “taken steps to carry out their obligations”.
He also said that human rights abuses continued in Libya and that “those responsible for crimes against their people will be held accountable”.
“We continue to have serious concerns about protection of civilians,” he said.
The Security Council was meeting amid growing outcry from opponents of the Western-led bombing campaign.
Russia and other countries have attacked the bombing as disproportionate, while the United States and its European allies say that air strikes are being carefully targeted to avoid harm to civilians.
Mr Ban told the council: “I expect the international community to continue to exercise full diligence in avoiding civilian casualties and collateral damage.”
——–Agencies