Ban Ki-moon to help the Libyans to overcome crises

As the UN news center reports “Swift and decisive action by the international community has stopped a humanitarian disaster from emerging so far in Libya, but the country’s transition to genuine democracy will take time and require concerted global support,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today.

“When the air strikes began, Government forces were poised to enter Benghazi,” he said, referring to the city in eastern Libya that has fallen under the control of the opposition movement to Muammar al-Qadhafi. “A bloodbath appeared to be inevitable…”he said.
At the same time according to the UN news center the UN Secretary General mentions that “air operations, alone, will not resolve the crisis. Nor will it bring about a political solution that meets the aspirations of the Libyan people”

“He reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire between the military and opposition forces, and said he and his Special Envoy for Libya, Abdel-Elah al-Khatib, remain in close contact with both Libya’s authorities and the opposition. Mr. Khatib is slated to return to Libya shortly,” the UN news center reported.

UN humanitarian officials are also preparing an inter-agency needs assessment for eastern Libya, with many agencies reporting difficulties in accessing civilians caught up in the fighting, the UN news center informs.