The United Nation's top human rights official said Friday reports of mass killings of thousands in Libya should spur the international community to step in vigorously to end the crackdown against anti-government protesters in the North African country.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay implored the UN Human Rights Council to use all means possible to establish an independent panel to investigate the alleged abuses by Libyan security forces and hold those responsible to account.
European nations that were leading the effort to condemn the crackdown ordered by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime, ordered a UN-led investigation into possible crimes against humanity and propose suspending Libya from the council.
"The crackdown in Libya of peaceful demonstrations is escalating alarmingly with reported mass killings, arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of protestors," Pillay told the UN's top human rights body.
"Tanks, helicopters and military aircraft have reportedly been used indiscriminately to attack the protesters. According to some sources, thousands may have been killed or injured."
Gadhafi, who has ruled for 42 years, appears to have lost control of large parts of the country. Pillay reminded the council that Gadhafi had urged his supporters to battle protesters and "attack them in their lairs," which she called a possible crime against humanity.
She said "any official, at any level, ordering or carrying out atrocities and attacks can be held criminally accountable."
It is the first time that the 47-nation Human Rights Council has held a special session to scrutinize one of its members. Libya's ambassador did not attend.
Nigeria's ambassador, Charles Nduka Onianwa, said for the African group of council members that it "is obvious ... that the indiscriminate use of force against peaceful protesters should be condemned."
Pakistan's ambassador, Zamir Akram, said the 57 members of the Organization of The Islamic Conference "strongly condemn the excessive use of force" in Libya.
"Muslims will no longer tolerate inequalities and injustice," he told the council. "A new dawn has come. The rules of the game have changed. Those who do not embrace it will be swept away."
Gadhafi's response to the uprising in his country has been the harshest by any Arab leader in the wave of protests that has swept the Middle East recently, toppling the presidents of Libya's neighbors Egypt and Tunisia.
But observers of the Geneva-based council say African and Asian nations are wary of setting too strong a precedent that could be used against other human rights abusing regimes in future.
Suspending Libya's rights of membership under the rules for the council would require two-thirds approval of all the 192 countries in the UN General Assembly in New York.
Human rights activists said they expect a strongly worded resolution to pass, though it might be watered down by efforts to achieve the broadest possible consensus.
While efforts to ostracize Libya from the council are being driven by Europe, the United States and some Latin American countries, Asian and African nations will be wary of setting a precedent that can be used against them or their allies in future, said Peter Splinter of Amnesty International.
"This is a test of the council and the willingness of some of its more active members, such as Pakistan, South Africa, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, to take a principled stand on human rights," he said.
In Brussels, NATO planned to hold an emergency meeting Friday to consider the deteriorating situation in Libya. It had received no requests to intervene and said it would only do so if it were given a United Nations mandate.
The UN Security Council also planned to meet later Friday in New York to consider actions against Gadhafi's regime.
French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said France and Britain would press the Security Council for a total embargo on weapons as well as sanctions, and also the referral of a case to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
The Security Council rarely does so, but ordered an investigation into crimes in Darfur in 2005.
"This regime in Libya is lashing out madly, it is waging war against its own people," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in an interview with WDR radio Friday. "We cannot accept that, so the U.N. Security Council must once again consider this situation urgently, and we must now approve sanctions together."
Westerwelle said possibilities include barring entry to members of the ruling family and freezing assets.
The EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also said the Security Council must take action and the EU bloc should consider imposing travel restrictions and asset freezes to achieve a halt to the violence there and move toward democracy.
The United States backs suspending Libya from the Geneva-based council and also is considering a larger sanctions package that might include asset freezes and travel bans on senior Libyan officials, or a ban on the sale of U.S. military equipment.
"The international community needs to stand up and speak with one voice" by condemning Libya and requesting its suspension from the council, urged the U.S. ambassador to the council, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe.