US freezes $30 billion in Libyan assets
Published:Tuesday | March 1, 2011 | 10:02 AM
The United States has frozen at least 30 billion in Libyan government assets.
A senior official at the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence says this is one of a series of steps being taken by international leaders designed to break Muammar Gaddafi's grip on power in Libya.
According to him, the $30 billion is the largest amount ever blocked under any sanctions programme.
American officials levelled the sanctions on Libya last Friday, and the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Libya on Saturday.
President Barack Obama yesterday met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss a variety of measures under consideration.
Ban later reported that further action against Libya may be necessary.