Amnesty urges Libyan parties to secure Libyans

Amnesty International called on all parties to Libya's armed conflict to act to spare civilians and ensure that urgently needed supplies can be delivered safely to Sirte.The Amnesty's call comes amid reports saying that the humanitarian situation in the coastal city of Sirte is rapidly worsening."Forces on both sides must take necessary precautions to spare civilians and must immediately set up humanitarian corridors to ensure that urgently needed supplies can be delivered safely to Sirte residents," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Middle East and North Africa Program Deputy Director at Amnesty International."All civilians who want to leave Sirte should be allowed to do so immediately in dignity and safety," she said.Establishing humanitarian corridors would include setting up neutral zones and negotiated routes that are clearly defined to give humanitarian workers safe access to the sick and injured.Media reports have described how civilians trapped in Sirte have been endangered by ongoing fighting and surviving on dwindling medical supplies, food, fuel and water."All those involved in the fighting have legal obligations to spare civilians by ending immediately the use of indiscriminate weapons like GRAD rockets, and not firing artillery and mortars into residential areas," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.