Yesterday Mr. Ban discussed with African Union Commission Chairperson Jean Ping cooperation between the UN and the regional organization on Libya, and tomorrow, Mr. Khatib will go to Addis Ababa for an AU meeting which representatives of both the Libyan Government and the opposition will attend in a bid to reach a ceasefire and political solution.

"My Special Envoy's mission [to Libya] was too brief to reach definitive conclusions about the human rights situation, but they found many worrying signs, including threats and incitement against the armed opposition," Mr. Ban said.

"Colonel Qadhafi's threats were aired repeatedly on national television. Journalists continue to be arrested. Foreign reporters in Tripoli told the UN mission about the population's general state of fear, tight control by the security services, and instances of arrest and disappearances."

He noted that some 336,000 people have left or fled Libya since the beginning of the crisis, which began five weeks ago as mass protests by civilians seeking an end to Mr. Qadhafi's 41-year rule, and there are also contingency plans to deal with possible new waves of migrants and refugees of up to 200,000 to 250,000. Meanwhile, the $160 million flash appeal to deal with the exodus and other aspects of the crisis is 63 per cent funded.

Mr. Ban, who was speaking to the Council on his return from a visit to Egypt and Tunisia, where largely peaceful mass protests led to the ousters of entrenched leaders in those countries before the eruption of violence in Libya, said that he was setting up an expert panel, as requested by the resolution, to monitor implementation of sanctions, which include an arms embargo and assets freeze on Libyan Government officials.

As also requested by the resolution, he noted that so far the United Kingdom, France, United States, Denmark, Canada, Italy, Qatar, Belgium, Norway, Spain and the United Arab Emirates have sent letters confirming their participation in the actions to protect Libyan civilians. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has also informed him of its decision to begin an alliance operation in support of the arms embargo.

In his encounter with journalists Mr. Ban described the sense of national pride he found everywhere he went in Egypt and Tunisia. "In the streets and at the highest levels of government, people were speaking the language of democracy, openness, freedom and human rights," he said.

"The events in Egypt and Tunisia and across the Arab world represent the greatest opportunity for the evolution of democracy and human rights in a generation. It is vital that these transitions succeed," he added, pledging to mobilize international aid, with special emphasis on socio-economic development.

"Egypt and Tunisia have achieved dramatic change with lightning speed. But now they are caught between spiralling expectations and reduced economic means. These emerging democracies need jobs, especially for the region's highly educated young people, who are so optimistic about their future. They need to see the dividend of democracy."

Also today, Mr. Ban discussed the situation in Libya, as well as in Yemen and Bahrain, with Moroccan Foreign Minister Tahib El Fassi Fihri in a meeting at UN Headquarters.