The United Nations suspended Libya's membership in the UN Human Rights Council in an attempt to persuade the country's regime to stop violence against protesters.
The relevant resolution was unanimously adopted late on Tuesday by the 192-nation General Assembly based on a recommendation of the Geneva-based UN human rights watchdog.
"The world has spoken with one voice: we demand an immediate end to the violence against civilians and full respect for their fundamental human rights, including those of peaceful assembly and free speech," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in remarks to the General Assembly.
Ban also welcomed the Human Rights Council's decision to urgently dispatch an independent international commission to investigate alleged violations of human rights in Libya.
The international community has already condemned the violence by Libyan authorities that reportedly killed up to 2,000 people in clashes between protesters and supporters of leader Muammar Gaddafi since a popular uprising began on February 15. Inspired by recent revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, Libyans are demanding an end to Gaddafi's 42-year authoritarian rule.
UNITED NATIONS, March 2 (RIA Novosti)
