Clinton applauds UN for suspending Libya from UNHRC

The United States has applauded the move by the UN General Assembly to suspend Libya’s membership rights in the Human Rights Council.

The United States has applauded the move by the UN General Assembly to suspend Libya’s membership rights in the Human Rights Council.

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Welcoming the move, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanded an immediate halt to violence perpetrated by the Libyan regime led by Muammar Gaddafi against its own citizens.

"The General Assembly has made it clear that governments that turn their guns on their own people have no place on the Human Rights Council," Clinton said.

"Today’s historic action is the first time that any country serving on the Human Rights Council, or the Commission before it, has ever had its membership suspended," she said, adding that the international community is speaking with one voice and the message is unmistakable: "these violations of universal rights are unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

Clinton said, two years ago, the US has announced that it would seek to join the Human Rights Council with a commitment to reform the Council from within.

"The actions the Council has taken over the last few days, setting the stage for today’s decision, is the latest example that our engagement is paying dividends, even as we keep pressing for further reforms," she said.