Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. — Photo by Reuters

CANBERRA: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Saturday urged all nations to help stabilise Libya but said the future of the country should be decided by its own people.

“I continue to urge all countries to come together to help the Libyan people,” he told a press conference in Canberra.

“The future of Libya should be decided by Libyan people.”

Ban, who arrived in Australia after attending an international summit on Libya in Paris, has said he is working to bring a UN mission to the country to deal with a possible humanitarian crisis as soon as possible.

“We are working to make sure that the United Nations can respond quickly to requests by the Libyan authorities,” he said Saturday.

“This includes restoring public security and order and promoting rule of law, promoting inclusive political dialogue...and protecting human rights, particularly for vulnerable groups.”

“We are working closely with the country's leadership to ensure that confusion and duplication of effort are kept to a minimum,” Ban said from the Australian capital where he met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Ban called on Australia to continue to support efforts to stabilise the country where fallen strongman Muammar Qadhafi has warned of a lengthy and widespread guerrilla war in messages broadcast from his unknown hideout.

“At this critical moment in history there is so much at stake for people in developed and developing countries, and I am here to say to Australia we need your ideas, your experience and your continued commitment,” Ban said.

Libya's new leaders have pledged to restore order and stage elections in 20 months after their forces defeated Qadhafi.

They have been bolstered by promises made at the Paris conference on Thursday that billions of dollars in cash from assets of the Qadhafi regime would be unfrozen.

Gillard had earlier said that Australia would continue its push for a seat on the UN Security Council, saying “we believe Australia's voice should be heard there”.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.