France says Gaddafi must go, as EU finalises sanctions

"Our position is clear: Moammar Gaddafi has to go," Mr Sarkozy said during a press conference in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul. "The repeated and systematic violence against the Libyan people is unacceptable and will be the object of an international probe," he added.The remarks echoed similar comments made a few hours earlier by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who warned the dictator that "no one is beyond reach of international law."

In an emergency meeting of the UN security council in New York on Friday, the UK and France also pressed for a world-wide arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze against the Libyan hardman and his loyalists.

The EU is working on similar measures of its own. Diplomats said the legal details and the names to go on the list are to be finalised over the weekend and are likely to be adopted by next Wednesday. Germany also backs the initiative.

Earlier this week, foreign ministers failed to agree on sanctions, mainly due to reluctance from Mediterranean member states. Italy was the main anti-sanctions country, with Rome wary of provoking the unpredictable Libyan leader at a time when thousands of EU citizens were still in his domain.