2011-03-18 09:21

UNITED NATIONS - China supports the UN "Security Council's adoption of appropriate and necessary action to stabilize as soon as possible the situation in Libya and to halt acts of violence against civilians," but "China has serious difficulty with part of the resolution," Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, said here Thursday.

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Li made the statement at the UN Security Council after he abstained from voting on a draft resolution which authorized a no-fly zone over Libya and called for "all necessary measures," excluding troops on the ground, to protect civilians under threat of attack in the North African country.

Apart from China, Russia, a permanent Council member with veto power, and Brazil, Germany and India, the three non-permanent Council members, also abstained from the voting on the draft resolution.

"The continuing worsening of the situation in Libya has the great concern of China. We support the Security Council's adoption of appropriate and necessary action to stabilize as soon as possible the situation in Libya and to halt acts of violence against civilians," Li said.

"China has always emphasized that in its relevant actions, the Security Council should follow the UN Charter and norms governing international law and respect the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Libya and resolve through peaceful means the current crisis in Libya," he said.