Diplomats say the European Union has agreed to impose additional sanctions on Libya.
The officials said Tuesday the measures will target the Libyan Investment Authority and other financial institutions linked to Moammar Gadhafi's government. The diplomats say the EU is expected to formally approve the new sanctions Friday.
In February, the 27-nation bloc announced sanctions against Libya that included an arms embargo, asset freezes and visa bans against the country's top officials.
Meanwhile, an EU diplomat said Tuesday that officials in Libya's foreign ministry have called for a United Nations probe into allegations of violence and human rights abuses in the country.
Also Tuesday, two members of Libya's opposition national council are briefing European parliament members on the turmoil in their country. The two representatives, Mahmoud Jebril and Ali al-Esawi of the Benghazi-based provisional council are meeting with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, a large liberal voting bloc in the European parliament. The European Union is to hold a special summit about Libya on Friday.
The Arab League announced Tuesday that it will hold an emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday to discuss developments in Libya.
The head of the Gulf Cooperation Council has condemned killings by Libya's pro-government forces as "massacres." At a meeting late Monday in Abu Dhabi, the GCC secretary-general Abdul Rahman Hamad al-Attiyah said the assaults against Libyan citizens amounted to "crimes against humanity." The grouping of gulf Arab states also urged the U.N. Security Council to establish a "no-fly" zone over Libya.
U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday that world powers are considering a wide range of potential options against Libya, including military action. He also warned supporters of Gadhafi that they would be "held accountable for whatever violence" continues to take place.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
