Obama imposes sanctions on Libya

US President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions on Muammar Gaddafi's government over a brutal crackdown on protesters, in an apparent attempt to further weaken the long-time strongman's teetering rule.

Obama wielded presidential power in an executive order, seizing assets and blocking any property in the United States belonging to Gaddafi or his four sons.

In a statement, Obama said the measures were specifically targeted against the Gaddafi government and not the material wealth of the Libyan people themselves.

"By any measure, Gaddafi’s government has violated international norms and common decency and must be held accountable," Obama said in a statement, using an alternate spelling for the Libyan leader's name.

"These sanctions therefore target the Gaddafi government, while protecting the assets that belong to the people of Libya."