FG Evacuates 499 Nigerians From Libya

The Federal Government has evacuated 499  Nigerians from troubled Libya, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Damian Agu, has said..

Mr Agu told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that evacuees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in the early hours of yesterday.

He said those evacuated include 17 persons on death roll.

He added that the evacuees were the first batch to arrive, as the exercise would continue.

The Federal Government on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council Meeting, ordered The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that all Nigerians in Libya were evacuated to protect their lives.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, his five children and 10 top associates.

A UN correspondent reports that Resolution 1970 imposing sanctions on the Libyan regime was adopted unanimously after lengthy discussions last Saturday.

The council imposed an asset freeze on Gaddafi, his four sons and daughter and a travel ban on the entire family.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed travel and asset sanctions on Gaddafi and close aides, ratcheting up pressure on him to quit before any more blood is shed in a popular revolt against his rule.

It also adopted an arms embargo and called for the deadly crackdown against anti-Gaddafi protesters to be referred to the International Criminal Court for investigation and possible prosecution of anyone responsible for killing civilians.

Western leaders, their rhetoric emboldened by evacuations that have sharply reduced the number of their citizens stranded in the oilfields and cities of the sprawling desert state, spoke out more clearly to say Gaddafi’s 41-year rule must now end.

“When a leader’s only means of staying in power is to use mass violence against his own people, he has lost the legitimacy to rule and needs to do what is right for his country by leaving now,” an aide to U.S. President Barack Obama said of phone talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel over Libya.

The death toll from 10 days of violence in Libya is estimated by diplomats at about 2,000.

Talk of possible military action by foreign governments remained vague, however. It was unclear how long Gaddafi, with some thousands of loyalists — including his tribesmen and military units commanded by his sons — might hold out against rebel forces comprised of youthful gunmen and mutinous soldiers.

The 15-member council also slammed sanctions on 10 of his close associates.

The Council also imposed a complete arms embargo and agreed to refer the regime’s lethal attack on anti-government protesters to the International Criminal Court.

The Council did not consider earlier suggestions by Libyan diplomats at the UN, requesting an imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.

The council also did not consider the idea of UN-backed military action in the North African country as was suggested.

Council members believed that the full implementation of the sanctions would swiftly and effectively address the ongoing crisis in Libya.

The UN estimates more than 1,000 people have died as Gaddafi’s regime attempted to quell the 11-day-old revolt against his repressive regime, in different cities across Libya .

Gaddafi’s regime has been accused of recruiting African mercenaries from neighbouring states to attack his countrymen.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN Joy Ogwu said Nigeria supported the package of sanctions in the resolution because the “impact was targeted and does not exacerbate the burden on Libya citizens.

“Nigeria is deeply concerned about the escalating violence, the inflammatory rhetoric and the deplorable loss of lives in Libya.

“It is therefore fitting that the Security Council has taken decisive action today to address the crisis.

“Nigeria is satisfied that the resolution provides for the protection of civilians and respects for international, humanitarian and human rights law,’’ she said.

She noted that Nigeria in reaching its decision took into consideration the letter received by the Permanent Representative of Libya supporting the measures proposed in the resolution.

The Libyan Mission to the UN had informed the council in a letter that it supported measures “to hold those responsible to

account for the armed attacks against the Libyan civilians, including through the International Criminal Court’’.

The letter was signed by Amb.Mohamed Shalgham, a former ally of Gadhafi, who denounced him on Friday for masterminding the bloodshed in the country.

In his remarks to the Security Council, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the “resolutions send a strong message that gross violations of basic human rights will not be tolerated, and that those responsible for grave crimes will be held accountable.

“I hope the message is heard, and heeded, by the regime in Libya. I hope it will also bring hope and relief to those still at risk.

“The sanctions you have imposed are a necessary step to speed the transition to a new system of governance that will have the consent and participation of the people,’’ the Secretary-General said.

In Geneva on Friday, the UN Human Rights Council called for an investigation into possible crimes against humanity in Libya.

It also recommended Libya’s suspension from membership of the organisation’s top human rights body.

The African Group at the Human Rights Council is, however, opposed to the suspension of Libya from the 47-member council, although it condemned the violence perpetrated by the Gaddafi regime.

A statement presented by Nigeria on behalf of the Group condemned what it called the “amalgam created by different media, qualifying Africans living in Libya as mercenaries”.’

The group pointed out that such presentation has “jeopardised the lives of these African nationals living the country”.

Son of Late Prof Claude Ake (2nd left front row) with guests during the first Prof Claude Ake memorial lecture in Port Harcourt, recently.