The European Union is considering sanctions against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi as unrest continues in the North African nation.
Conflicting reports say up to 1,000 people have been killed in fighting between demonstrators and pro-Gaddafi forces.
Earlier this week, the 27-nation bloc broke off its negotiations with the Libyan government on an EU-Libya Framework Agreement.
Gaddafi's remaining strongholds in the west of the country, including the capital Tripoli, are said to be shrinking.
"The EU is preparing sanctions, including freezing Gaddafi's assets," a source in the EU Council told RIA Novosti.
The sanctions will also include a travel ban for Gaddafi and his associates as well as an arms embargo.
In his comments in the White House on Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama also made a threat of sanctions and denounced the violence as "outrageous and unacceptable."
BRUSSELS, February 24 (RIA Novosti)
