Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa has described the current situation in Libya as "tragic" in light of the ruling regime’s brutal crackdown against protesters demanding the ouster of longstanding ruler Muammar Qadhafi.
In the opening session of a league meeting on Wednesday, Moussa said the situation in Libya was "tragic" and "unacceptable."
"The reality is that the Libyan people are suffering greatly and facing violations and attempts to kill their desire for freedom," he said.
He added that a decision on Libya would soon be adopted by the league, particularly after the UN Security Council had adopted resolution 1970 under Article 41 of the UN Charter’s Chapter VII, which authorizes member nations to impose an arms embargo on Libya to prevent the Qadhafi regime from arming mercenaries to suppress anti-government protests.
Moussa said the meeting was "the first to take place during the era of Arab revolutions.” He added: "We must ask God to bless these martyrs…who did not attack anyone but who were themselves victims.”
Moussa had previously announced his intention to resign from his post at the Arab League, saying that “ten years is enough." And on Sunday he announced his readiness to run for president in upcoming Egyptian elections slated for later this year, calling it his "duty and responsibility."
Moussa added that he was currently putting together an electoral program to be unveiled "at an appropriate time." He said the program would be based on "deliberations and proactive brainstorming with a number of intellectuals."
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
