EU calls for immediate end of violence in Libya

The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called on the Libyan authorities to immediately put a stop to violence against anti-government protesters and begin broad-based dialogue on reforms.

"The European Union is extremely concerned about the events unfolding in Libya and the reported deaths of a very high number of demonstrators," Ashton said in a statement.

"The EU urges the authorities to exercise restraint and calm and to immediately refrain from further use of violence against peaceful demonstrators," she said during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

Ashton said the EU's 27 governments called on the Libyan government to "immediately cease the blocking of public access to the Internet and mobile phone networks."

"The legitimate aspirations and demands of the people for reform must be addressed through open and meaningful Libya-led dialogue," she said.