Security Council condemns Libya crackdown

• The United Nations Security Council further isolated Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi on Tuesday, condemning his regime's crackdown on anti-government protesters and demanding that violence against civilians end immediately.
• A press statement agreed by all 15 members of the U.N.'s most powerful body expressed "grave concern" at the situation in Libya, "deplored the repression against peaceful demonstrators, and expressed deep regret at the deaths of hundreds of civilians."
• The council called for an "immediate end to the violence and for steps to address the legitimate demands of the population, including through national dialogue."
• It came hours after Mr. Qadhafi vowed in a television address to keep fighting to his "last drop of blood" and urged his supporters to take to the streets, setting the stage for even more deadly violence.

Libya gained independence as the Kingdom of Libya in 1951. Libya has been ruled from 1969 to the present by Muammar al-Gaddafi, who rose to power in a military coup. In February 2011 mass protests and demonstrations broke out across Libya against Gaddafi's government. The Libyan opposition is reported to be in control of several towns and cities in eastern Libya. As of 23 February 2011, it is reported that the Gaddafi government now only controls a few parts of Tripoli and the southern desert town of Sabha.