UN imposes sanctions as marchers advance on Tripoli

The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Moamer Kadhafi's regime in Libya, in response to its violent crackdown on protesters that the UN says may constitute a crime against humanity. Kadhafi's opponents were advancing on Tripoli on Sunday, where witnesses report his forces have been shooting civilians on sight.

Emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, 26 February 2011. Reuters/Joshua Lott

The UN resolution, approved on Saturday night, imposes a travel ban and assets freeze on Kadhafi, five of his children and senior defence and intelligence officials. It also bans arms sales to Libya, with immediate effect.

The UN has referred the recent violence against civilians to the International Criminal Court, which will investigate whether it amounts to crimes against humanity.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in "widespread and systematic attacks", the UN said.

In Tripoli, Kadhafi loyalists have been given orders to shoot on sight, according to witnesses.

Tanks patrolled the streets on Sunday as anti-regime protesters advanced on the capital, one of the few areas in Libya that remains under Kadhafi's control.

The country's third largest city, Misrata, is now in the hands of the opposition, though reports say that mercenaries in helicopters continue to fire on streets and buildings.

Kadhafi's former justice minister, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, announced on Sunday he would form a transitional government comprised of defected army officers and civilians to take over from Kadhafi's regime.

He promises it will lead for no more than three months, when democratic elections will follow.

However, it's not clear whether Jalil, who is based in the opposition stronghold of Al-Baida in the east, has the backing of other rebels across Libya.

US President Barack Obama on Saturday called for Kadhafi to leave power immediately, in his strongest statement on Libya yet.

"When a leader's only means of staying power is to use mass violence against his own people, he has lost the legitimacy to rule and needs to do what is right for his country by leaving now," the White House said.