DUSHANBE, February 28, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The UN Security Council on February 26 voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Muammar Gaddafi''s Libyan regime for its attempts to put down an uprising.  They backed an arms embargo and asset freeze while referring Colonel Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity.

The BBC reports Saturday night''s vote was only the second time the Security Council has referred a country to the ICC, and the first time such a vote has been unanimous.

The US has already imposed sanctions against Libya, and closed its embassy in Tripoli.  US President Barack Obama has said the Libyan leader should step down and leave the country immediately.

Australia says it will place sanctions on 22 individuals in Col Gaddafi''s inner circle, barring financial transactions and their entry to Australia.

Britain also announced it had temporarily closed its embassy in Tripoli and pulled out its staff on the last UK government-chartered aircraft because of the deteriorating security situation.

RIA Novosti reports President Medvedev on February 25 issued a special address dedicated to the Libyan unrest.  It reads that Russia calls upon the Libyan authorities not to allow any further aggravation of the situation and destruction of the civilian population.  Otherwise, the statement reads, such actions would be qualified as a crime with all consequences that could lead from it.

International media outlets report foreign ministers from around the world are gathering in Geneva to discuss their response to the mounting humanitarian crisis in Libya.

In the meantime, Muammar Gaddafi reportedly still controls Tripoli, but eastern Libya has fallen to the uprising and discussions on forming an anti-Gaddafi transitional government are reportedly under way.  Opposition forces controlling eastern cities say they have formed a national council to act as the political face of the anti-Gaddafi movement.

According to the BBC, Mustafa Abdel-Jalil - who resigned as justice minister in protest against the excessive use of force against demonstrators - said a body comprising military and civilian figures would prepare for elections within three months, Libya''s privately-owned Quryna newspaper reported.

Libya''s ambassadors to the United States and UN have both reportedly voiced their support for the plan, which was being discussed in the rebel-controlled eastern town of Benghazi.

The UN estimates more than 1,000 people have been killed in nearly two weeks of violence in which eastern cities have fallen to anti-government forces.  According to the UN, about 100,000 people have fled anti-government unrest in Libya over the past week.

The BBC reports the local representative of the Red Crescent described the position as "a humanitarian crisis".

According to the BBC, in a telephone interview with a Serbian TV, Colonel Gaddafi said the sanctions were null and void.  "The people of Libya support me, small groups of rebels are surrounded and will be dealt with," he added.  His son Saif al-Islam denied that his father had any assets abroad.  "We are a very modest family and everybody knows that," he told ABC News. "They are saying we have money in Europe or Switzerland... It''s a joke."  He also denied widespread reports that Libyan troops and mercenaries had fired on civilians.