The Libyan authorities have asked the UN Security Council to suspend sanctions against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, which were imposed in response to his violent suppression of protests in the country, Al-Arabia TV channel reported on Saturday.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on February 26 on "targeted measures" against the current Libyan government. The sanctions include a total arms embargo, travel bans and freezing of accounts held by the country's leadership.
Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa wrote to the UN Security Council on Friday urging the lifting of the sanctions, adding that the government was "taken aback" by the measures as only "a modicum" of force had been used against protesters.
International human rights organizations said about 6,000 people have been killed since the anti-Gaddafi protests began on February 15. The UN said the death toll ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 people.
MOSCOW, March 5 (RIA Novosti)
