EU ministers urge Libyans to defect

EU foreign ministers today condemned what they call the “grave violations of human rights” perpetrated by the regime of Muammar…

EU foreign ministers today condemned what they call the “grave violations of human rights” perpetrated by the regime of Muammar Gadafy and said the Libyan leader must relinquish power immediately.

In a statement, foreign ministers from the 27 EU countries are calling on the Gadafy regime's followers to defect and "disassociate themselves from its crimes".

The foreign ministers, meeting today in Brussels, also said the EU was trying to deliver humanitarian aid to those who need it and called for unlimited access to western Libya.

They said the EU remained committed to protecting Libyan civilians by increasing pressure on the Gadafy regime.