The UN Security Council is to meet Tuesday on the deadly military crackdown of pro-democracy protesters in Libya, dpa reported.
The 15-nation council met briefly earlier Tuesday on strongman Moamer Gaddafi's military response to popular unrest, which has reportedly killed hundreds of people in Tripoli and Bengazhi.
A formal meeting was to take place Tuesday afternoon in New York to allow UN members to voice their concerns about the situation in Libya, diplomats said.
UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs, B Lynn Pascoe, was to brief the council on events in Tripoli, the diplomats said.
With Libya's military crackdown worsening over the weekend with tanks and aerial bombings against crowds of protesters, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the human rights chief have urged Gaddafi to immediately end attacks on civilians.
Ban on Monday expressed outrage at news reports that Libyan the air force was authorized to fire at demonstrators from war planes and helicopters.
"This is unacceptable," Ban said. "This violence against demonstrators must immediately stop."
The UN said Ban telephoned Gaddafi on Monday urging him to stop the violence, respect human rights and heed popular aspirations.
In Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday issued similar calls.
"The callousness with which Libyan authorities and their hired guns are reportedly shooting live rounds of ammunition at peaceful protestors is unconscionable," Pillay said. "I am extremely worried that lives are being lost even as I speak."
"The international community must unite in condemnation of such acts and make unequivocal commitments to ensure justice is rendered to the thousands of victims of this repression."
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