How should the world respond to Libya?
| 12:25 UK time, Wednesday, 23 February 2011
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This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 23 February 2011.ÌýListen to the programme.
on how the international community should deal with Libya and Colonel Gaddafi.
France has become the first state to call for sanctions against Libya. Here's what President Sarkozy had to say:
"I would like the suspension of economic, commercial and financial relations with Libya until further notice,"
Here's a little of what's been said around the globe on whether sanctions are the appropriate response. Please do post what you think should happen.
Angela Merkel, German chancellor who described Col Gaddafi's speech as "horrifying", on Tuesday said she may support the use of sanctions against Libya after the leader had "basically declared war on his own people".
Finland's Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said the European Union should discuss sanctions on Gaddafi's inner circle, but at such a move.
Neither is the prime minister of Qatar, he said he did not want to isolate Libya.Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere was quoted saying:
"the hour is not right for flexing muscles. If the situation deteriorates there will be time to draw the proper conclusions."
The United States faced calls to impose sanctions but also to take direct action such as bombing Libyan airfields and imposing no-fly zones -- military steps that most analysts consider unlikely. Senator John Kerry, a Democrat from Massachusetts proposed the White House consider reimposing tough sanctions on Libya.
"World leaders must together put Colonel Gaddafi on notice that his cowardly actions will have consequences,"
Kerry said, beyond possible U.S. sanctions, that energy companies should take action as well.
"All American and international oil companies should immediately cease operations in Libya until violence against civilians ceases,"
Italy's Eni said it halted output in Libya, which is Italy's biggest oil supplier. A number of companies including BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Canada's Suncor Energy Inc said they were pulling out staff but had not confirmed any impact on production. Among U.S. companies, Marathon Oil and Occidental Petroleum said production in Libya continued
Do you think sanctions can work? Do you want your country to impose them? What about companies from your country? Should they cut all business ties and production in the case of oil?
