Amnesty seeks sanctions, accountability for Libya war crimes

London, Jan 28 (IANS/EFE) Amnesty International (AI) called on the UN Security Council Wednesday to investigate and impose targeted sanctions for kidnappings, torture and murders committed during the conflict in Libya, some of which it considered as war crimes.

In the report entitled "Benghazi's Descent into Chaos: Abductions, Summary Killings and other Abuses", Amnesty International described the human rights violations carried out during the ongoing armed conflict in the country.

It asked the Security Council to carry out specific measures, including a travel ban and freezing of economic assets of those involved in the violations.

"Unless the international community demonstrates the will to investigate war crimes and hold perpetrators accountable, the cycle of abuses and the suffering of victims is likely to worsen," said the organisation.

According to Amnesty, in recent weeks the continuing negotiations in Geneva have provided a "glimmer of hope that Libyans may be able to pull the country back from the brink".

"What is going on in Benghazi shows us that all sides are responsible for serious human rights abuses, and ordinary Libyans are caught between two fires," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, AI's Middle East and North Africa deputy director.

AI questioned the abuses committed both by "the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries," (SCBR), a coalition of Islamist militias, as well as the "forces loyal to Gen. Khalifa Haftar's Operation Dignity campaign".

Hafter directed a military operation, which was joined by several military units of the former regime of Muammar Gaddafi, against Islamist forces.

On Oct 15, the forces loyal to the general launched a new offensive to take control of Benghazi.

The result has been three months of intense fighting and indiscriminate shelling in residential areas, plus the airstrikes of "Operation Dignity" launched by Hafter.

The report states that the humanitarian consequences of the conflict have been disastrous, with at least 90,000 people displaced due to the fighting.

Meanwhile, civilians are struggling to cope with water shortages, rising food prices and severe power outages, as well as shortages of gas and cooking fuel, according to AI.

The fighting has also led to a shortage of medical supplies, in addition to some public hospitals being evacuated because of bombing, while all schools have been closed in the city, the humanitarian organization said.

--IANS/EFE

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