COMMUNIQUE

COMMUNIQUE OF THE 261ST MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union, at its 261st meeting held on 23 February  2011,  considered  the  situation  in  the  Great  Socialist  People’s  Libyan  Arab  Jamahiriya and adopted the following decision:

Council,

1. Takes  note  of  the  statements  made  by  the  Commission  and  the  Permanent Representative of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya;

2. Expresses deep concern with the situation in the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and strongly condemns the indiscriminate and excessive use of force and lethal weapons against peaceful protestors, in violation of human rights and International Humanitarian Law, which continues to contribute to the loss of human life and the destruction of property. Council stresses the need for the people of Libya to spare no effort in avoiding any further loss of life. Council conveys its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes those that have been injured an early recovery;

3. Calls on the Libyan authorities to ensure the protection and security of the citizens and also ensure the delivery and provision of humanitarian assistance to the injured and other persons in need;

4. Appeals  to  the  people  of  Libya  to  work  together  to  find  a  lasting  solution  to  the problems facing their country. Council urges the authorities and the people of Libya to exercise maximum restraint and to put an end forthwith to all acts of violence and the destruction of property;

5. Underscores that the aspirations of the people of Libya for democracy, political reform, justice and socio‐economic development are legitimate and urges that they be respected. Council further calls on all parties, in particular, the Government, to desist from making statements that could escalate the situation. Furthermore, Council stresses the need to preserve the territorial integrity and unity of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya;

6. Decides to urgently dispatch a mission of Council to Libya to assess the situation on the ground;

7. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.