The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning attempts to illicitly export crude oil from Libya and imposing sanctions on vessels involved in such efforts.
The resolution, passed Wednesday, comes as the US navy continues to escort the Morning Glory tanker -- which earlier this month loaded a cargo of crude from the rebel-held port of Es Sider in eastern Libya -- to an as-yet-unknown Libyan port.
The UN resolution requests that Libya inform the Security Council committee overseeing the arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze imposed on the country by resolution 1970 -- known as the 1970 committee -- of any vessels transporting crude oil illicitly exported from Libya.
It also decided that the 1970 committee would designate those vessels for some or all measures authorized in the resolution on a case-by-case basis for a period of 90 days.
"These include actions by member states to prohibit the vessels from entering ports and requiring their nationals not to engage in any financial transactions with respect to crude oil from Libya aboard vessels designated by the committee," the UN said.
The measures also require the flag state of the designated vessel to take the necessary measures "to direct the vessel not to load, transport or discharge such crude oil from Libya."
The Morning Glory was flagged by North Korea, but the country denied having anything to do with the vessel.
The resolution also authorizes member states to inspect on the high seas vessels designated by the committee, and to use all measures "commensurate to the specific circumstances" to carry out such inspections and direct the vessel to take appropriate actions to return the crude oil to Libya.
US ACTION
A spokesman for the Pentagon in a statement late Wednesday said 25 Navy personnel remain aboard the Morning Glory after a team of Navy SEALs boarded and took control of the ship on Monday.
"The ship is underway to an as-yet undetermined spot in international waters near Libya to await a final port decision," Army Col. Steve Warren said.
He added that discussions have begun on turning the three Libyans that took the vessel over to the Libyan government.
US forces took control of the tanker in international waters at the request of the governments of Libya and Cyprus following its seizure earlier this month by the three armed Libyans.
The US sailors aboard the tanker are supervising the transit and performing security, navigation and communications tasks, Warren said, adding that the SEALs had now left the ship.
"The USS Stout is escorting the Morning Glory towards Libya. The three Libyans who had taken control of the Morning Glory remain now under US control aboard the Morning Glory," Warren said.
The 21-person civilian crew, consisting of six Pakistanis, six Indians, three Sri Lankans, two Syrians, two Sudanese and two Eritreans, also remain aboard the ship, he said.
Despite the resolution of the Morning Glory incident, the blockade by rebels of Libya's four main eastern Libyan ports -- Es Sider, Ras Lanuf, Zueitina and Marsa al-Hariga -- continues.
State-owned oil company NOC on Saturday released a statement reinforcing its declaration of force majeure at the four terminals.
