U.N. head chastises Libya's Gadhafi

NEW YORK, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he spoke with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, warning him against continuing violence against civilians.

UNNews said Ban, who was on a trip to Los Angeles, had a "blunt" 40-minute conversation with the embattled Libyan strongman Monday, and then cut short his visit to head back to United Nations headquarters in New York.

"It was not an easy conversation," Ban told a Global Creative Forum dinner in Los Angeles Tuesday night. "I told him, bluntly, that the violence must stop -- immediately."

Gadhafi went on national television Tuesday and in a rambling address vowed to fight on against opposition protesters demanding an end to his 40-year regime in the oil-rich north African country.

"Let me say directly: Those responsible for violence against civilians must be held accountable. And among the events we have witnessed recently, some appear to be clear violations of international humanitarian and human rights law," Ban said at the dinner.

Ban praised the Arab League's decision to suspend Libya and the U.N. Security Council for condemning use of force by the Libyan government.