UN, Muammar Gaddafi reach deal for humanitarian aid in Libya

The United Nations has reached an agreement for providing humanitarian aid to the besieged Libyan city of Misrata, which has seen weeks of fighting between the forces of Muammar Gaddafi and the rebels.

"I am encouraged to report that, as a result, the United Nations yesterday reached an agreement on a humanitarian presence in Tripoli," UN chief Ban Ki-moon told reporters, during his visit to Hungary.

The special envoy of the secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to Libya Abdul Ilah Al-Khatib and the UN's top humanitarian affairs coordinator Valerie Amos visited Tripoli yesterday.

They held talks with the Libyan regime and asked them to cease hostilities to provide safe passage for people to leave and allow urgent medical supplies into the city.

Ban said that the UN had already established a humanitarian presence in Benghazi and now the Libyan authorities have agreed to establish a humanitarian presence in Tripoli.

"We will try to expand our humanitarian activities together with other international NGOs and humanitarian workers like the Red Cross and Red Crescent," he said.

But, Amos said she had received assurances from government authorities in Tripoli that the UN would be allowed into Misrata itself.

Noting that half a million people had fled the country and tens of thousands did not have basic needs, Ban said, "We have very serious humanitarian problems".

"Meanwhile, our talks on the political situation continue," Ban said.

"Once a ceasefire is eventually reached, Libya will require wide-ranging efforts in peacemaking, peace-building and reconstruction."

Ban also asked the Libyan authorities to stop fighting.

"Considering the magnitude of this crisis as this fighting is still continuing, it is absolutely necessary that Libyan authorities stop fighting, stop killing people," said Ban.

The UN chief said that the three immediate goals are to establish a ceasefire, provide humanitarian assistance and find a political solution.

Hundreds of migrant workers were among nearly 1,000 people evacuated from Misrata, the lone rebel bastion 214 kilometres east of the capital Tripoli that been under siege of Gaddafi's forces for over seven weeks.

Media reports said 1,000 people are estimated to have been died in the fighting in Misrata and "80% of the deaths are civilians".

The UN said that the Al-Khatib and Amos reiterated the strongly condemnation by the international community of the "use of force against the civilians" and called on the government to stop all attacks in the country especially Misrata.

Al Khatib asked the Libyan government fully comply with Security Council resolutions especially to commit to an immediate and effective cease-fire.

On February 26, the Council slapped sanctions on the Libyan regime including an arms embargo, an asset freeze and travel ban on Gaddafi and his loyalists, and a referral to the Hague-based International Criminal Court.

In March, the Security Council called for an immediate ceasefire, establishing a no-flying zone and authorised "all necessary measures" for protecting civilians in Libya.