Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday condemned the Libyan government's violent crackdown on protesters and warned that the unrest could threaten the global economy, dpa reported.
"I'm extremely concerned about the recent developments in Libya, not only with the scale of the upheaval, but the victims of violence, which in my view is beyond the limits of decency," Yudhoyono said.
Yudhoyono, a former general, urged the government of Moamer Gaddafi to adopt a peaceful approach in dealing with the uprising.
He said the crisis in Libya could further threaten the global economy as countries including Indonesia were struggling with rising food prices.
"We are witnessing a significant increase in oil prices triggered by the situation in Libya and its neighbouring countries," the president said.
"Unless this stops, the world is likely to face a double blow - rising food prices and a spike in oil prices, which in turn will result in a further increase in food prices," he added.
Most estimates point to hundreds of protesters killed so far. But Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Wednesday that a figure of 1,000 dead was "plausible."
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