Ministry corrects reports, RI still has diplomatic ties with Libya

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry is correcting media reports that the country has cut all diplomatic ties with crisis-ridden Libya.

Ministry spokesman Michael Tene told The Jakarta Post that as a member of the United Nations (UN), Indonesia would abide by the UN's recent sanctions on Libya's Muammar Qaddafi and his aides.

But, the sanctions do not include cutting diplomatic ties, as reported earlier by local media.

“As a member of the UN, we have to obey the UN's verdicts, which are legally binding. And, as the sanctions detail, it doesn't mean that we're cutting diplomatic ties with Libya,” he said.

The UN Security Council unanimously imposed travel and asset sanctions and an arms embargo on Qaddafi and his aides to put more pressure on the leader to quit.