Amnesty International today called on the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Libya to the International Criminal Court and impose an immediate arms embargo, ahead of a planned session in New York on 25 February.

Salil Shetty, Amnesty International's Secretary-General, said:
"Colonel al-Gaddafi and his chain of command have to understand they will answer for their actions.

"They need to see that investigation and prosecution are a reality they will face.

"This should act as a wake-up call to those issuing the orders and those who carry them out: your crimes will not go unpunished.

"Members of the Security Council must act now to stop the outrageous abuses taking place on the streets of Tripoli and elsewhere in Libya."

The organisation repeated its call of 23 February to the Security Council to immediately impose an arms embargo on Libya preventing transfer of equipment and personnel, and to implement an asset freeze against Colonel al-Gaddafi, those associated with him, and anyone else involved in human rights abuses.