United Nations:
India and other members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have unanimously slapped tough sanctions on the Moammar Gaddafi regime in Libya.
Voting 15-0 after daylong discussions interrupted with breaks to consult with capitals back home, the council imposed an arms embargo and urged U.N. member countries to freeze the assets of Gaddafi, his four sons and his daughter. The council also backed a travel ban on the Gaddafi family and 10 close associates.
Council members additionally agreed to refer the Gaddafi regime's deadly crackdown on people protesting his rule to a permanent war crimes tribunal for an investigation of possible crimes against humanity.
The issue of Gaddafi being immediately referred to the International Criminal Court for the brutal crackdown on protesters was a bone of contention during the UN talks, with India preferring a more calibrated approach.
India relented after the resolution was modified to include that the UNSC could defer action by the International Criminal Court for a period of 12 months.
The Indian envoy to the UN said that India had gone along with the consensus in the Council because African and Arab states wanted to refer the matter to the International Court and the Libyan envoy had asked for it as well.
Earlier on Saturday, U.S. President Barack Obama said in a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Gaddafi needs to do what's right for his country by "leaving now."
The uprising that began February 15 has swept over nearly the entire eastern half of the country, breaking cities there out of his regime's hold. Gaddafi and his backers continue to hold the capital Tripoli and have threatened to put down protests aggressively.
There have been reports that Gaddafi's government forces have been firing indiscriminately on peaceful protesters and that as many as 1,000 people have died.
(
With AP Inputs)