India and 14 other members of the UN Security Council have asked the regime of Moammar Gaddafi in Libya to address the legitimate demands of the people protesting against his 41-year rule. The Security Council condemned the violence and use of force against civilians, deplored the repression against peaceful demonstrators and expressed deep regret at the deaths of hundreds of civilians. In a statement issued in response to a violent crackdown against pro-democracy protesters in Libya, the 15 members of the Council called for an immediate end to the violence and for steps to address the legitimate demands of the population, including through national dialogue.

The Security Council strongly urged the Libyan authorities to ensure the safe passage of humanitarian and medical supplies and humanitarian workers into the country. The closed-door meeting of the Council was briefed by B Lynn Pascoe, UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs and Libya’s envoy to the UN, Mohammed Shalgam.

Rosemary DiCarlo, US deputy envoy to the UN, said separately that the international community has said in one clear and unified voice that it condemns the violence against civilians in Libya and that the violence must cease immediately.

The world body also welcomed the statement issued by the Arab League, which barred Libya from its meetings until it stopped attacking its own people.

Navi Pillay, UN human rights chief, blasted the crackdown by the forces loyal to 68-year-old Gaddafi against the protesters and called for an independent investigation into crimes that may have been committed.

Following the overthrow of regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, large-scale protests have erupted in several countries in the region including Libya, Bahrain and Yemen. Libya, however, has responded with an extreme show of force.