Obama extends Libya emergency order

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- An emergency order allowing sanctions against the late Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi will be extended, U.S. President Obama said Thursday.

The emergency was set to expire Saturday on its first anniversary.

In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Vice President Joe Biden, acting as the president of the Senate, Obama said the situation in Libya since Gadhafi's ouster and death in October is still unsettled.

"The situation in Libya continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States and we need to protect against this threat and the diversion of assets or other abuse by certain members of Gadhafi's family and other former regime officials," Obama said. "Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Libya."