The United Nations Security Council on Saturday voted to impose sanctions on Moammar Gadhafi, his immediate family and 10 top associates in an attempt to halt the violent reaction to anti-government protests in Libya.
On a 15-0 vote, the Security Council also approved an embargo on arms shipments to Libya, the hiring of mercenaries and referred the deadly crackdown on protesters to the International Crime Court for what media reports described as an investigation of possible crimes against humanity.
The U.N. action followed similar sanctions announced Friday by the U.S. and several European nations.
The Security Council froze the assets of Gadhafi, his four sons and daughter, and imposed a travel ban on the Gadhafi family and 10 close associates, Associated Press reported.
There have been reports that more than 1,000 people have died during antigovernment protests.
