2011-04-19 08:48:35

Agreement reached over Libya humanitarian access


The United Nations believes it has reached an agreement with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddaffi's regime to bring humanitarian relief to Tripoli and Misrata. However, the international organization acknowledges that they do not have confirmation from Gaddafi's people that the military operations will stop so that humanitarian relief can be delivered.

Misrata, Libya's third largest city, has been under siege for seven weeks by Gaddafi's military, during which hundreds of civilians are thought to have been killed, and evacuees say conditions are becoming increasingly desperate.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says while he's urging an end to the fighting between Gaddaffi's troops and those calling for his ouster, the UN has a duty to aid those in need.

In a separate development, Tunisia has reported that some 11,000 Libyans have fled a remote and mountainous western region where government forces are fighting rebels, and crossed into Tunisia over the last week. It said women and children are among those fleeing "intense bombing" that has destroyed many houses.

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