Japan Cabinet okays sanctions against Libya

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan approved a set of sanctions against Libya on Tuesday, as part of international efforts to stop crackdowns by its leader Muammar Gaddafi on antigovernment protestors in the northern African country.

The move, which came in response to a UN Security Council resolution adopted late last month, allows Tokyo to freeze any assets in Japan of six Libyans, including Gaddafi, and prohibit any imports of arms manufactured in or shipped from Libya. All of the measures took effect today. Japan has never imported weapons from Libya, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry said. The Finance Ministry has not confirmed so far that Gaddafi has any assets in Japan, and will request financial institutions operating in the country to report whether they are handling any deposit, investment trust or loan arrangements linked to the six Libyans. The 15-member UN Security Council on February 26 voted unanimously to impose an asset freeze on Gaddafi, his daughter and four sons. The six were also named among 16 individuals, including more family members and other officials, who are subject to a travel ban.