South Africa opposes US resolution on Libyan assets

The US has introduced a UN resolution for the unfreezing of $1.5 billion in Libyan assets for urgent humanitarian needs. The move is aimed at releasing the money to opponents of embattled leader Moammar Gadhafi, the Transitional National Council.

The US initiated the unfreezing of part of Libya's billions of dollars of assets in US banks on 8 August through the Security Council sanctions committee that oversees such measures. This required the consensus of all 15 members for action, however member South Africa opposed the move, blocking the committee's ability to release the entire package.

The US thus moved yesterday to bring the issue to the Security Council in the form of a resolution, which would require only nine votes in favour and no vetoes.

The draft resolution, calls for a release of up to $500 million for international humanitarian organisations in  help for funding a UN humanitarian appeal. It further calls for the unfreezing of up to $500 million for the purchase of fuel for electricity, water plants and hospitals, as also for other goods. Finally, a sum of $500 million is proposed towards expenses related to the Transitional National Council for the provision of social services, including education, healthcare, food subsidies and other humanitarian needs.

According to South Africa's UN ambassador Baso Sangqu Pretoria was not opposed to the release of the portion of funds designated for international humanitarian agencies and the UN humanitarian appeal, but his government did have concerns about the balance 1 billion dollars which would go through the TNC towards purchase of fuel as also other programmes.

He said that it was important that Libyan money went to the rightful owners and the people of Libya.