Ban Ki-Moon Urges Immediate U.N. Mission to Libya

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told talks on the future of Libya on Thursday that the United Nations is ready to lead an immediate international mission to help get the country back on its feet.

Ban said he had talked with Libyan, Arab, African and European leaders and "all agreed at this critical moment the international community must come together with an effective, well-coordinated program of action.

"I intend to work closely with the Security Council in crafting a mandate for a U.N. mission, with the express aim of beginning operations with minimum delay," Ban told the conference of "Friends of Libya" in Paris.

Ban said the leaders of the National Transitional Council, which now forms Libya's rebel interim government after overthrowing strongman Moammar Gadhafi, supported his proposed humanitarian and state-building mission.

"Our most immediate challenge is humanitarian," he said. "Roughly 860,000 people have left the country since February, including skilled guest workers. Public services are under severe strain, including hospitals and clinics."

"There is a major water shortage," he warned. "Meanwhile, sporadic fighting continues, particularly in the country's south."

While insisting on the need for the international community to coordinate its action with the NTC, he promised that: "The future destiny of Libya must rest in the hands of the Libyan people."

"In the meantime, my humanitarian coordinator is today on the ground in Tripoli," Ban added, adding that his special advisor for post-conflict planning, Ian Martin, would also set off immediately for Libya.