Nightly News   |  February 27, 2011

International unity confronts defiant Gadhafi

The international community is trying to pressure Moammar Gadhafi to stop killing his own people and step down. NBC’s Mike Viqueira reports.

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>>> more strong words and action this weekend from the united states and the united nations . both tried to incease pressure on moammar gadhafi and pave the way for a postgadhafi libya. nbc's mike viqueira has our report.

>> reporter: it was a rare display of international unity. by a vote of 15-0, the u.n. security council slapped sanctions on the gadhafi regime.

>> this is a clear warning to the libyan government that it must stop the killing.

>> reporter: sanctions would freeze the assets of the gadhafi family and close officials. that follies similar move by the white house . restrict travel outside of libya and ask the international criminal court to investigate possible gadhafi war crimes , including the killing of his own citizens. sent by president obama to consult allies in europe, today, secretary of state hillary clinton said the u.s. is reaching out to libyans, trying to organize in cities now held by anti- gadhafi forces. and is ready and prepared to offer any kind of assistance to a postgadhafi government. this weekend, president obama , for the first time, publicly called for gadhafi 's ouster. while backing that call, today, republican john mccain said the u.s. needs to go further.

>> we could impose and could have are imposed a no-fly zone. they would have stopped flying if that had been imposed. they are using air power and helicopters to continue these massacres.

>> reporter: and lester, another senator, independent joe lieberman , says the united states government should recognize those opposition leaders in benghazi as the legitimate libyan government and arm them. consultations will continue this week at the white house . the president meets tomorrow with ban ki-moon, the u.n. secretary-general. lesser?

>> mike viqueira at the white house . thank you.