The 27 EU governments will sign off sanctions against the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi this afternoon, the EU's diplomatic chief Catherine Ashton told journalists in Geneva.

"The European Union will meet later today to adopt a council decision which will implement the UN Security Council resolution adopted on Saturday," Ashton told journalists.

"Together with that we will adopt additional accompanying measures such as an embargo on equipment which might be used for internal repression and we're looking at individuals under the travel restrictions and the assets freeze," she added on the sidelines of a UN Human Rights Council session.

In Brussels, diplomatic sources said that around 25 Libyans will be targeted by the EU asset freeze and travel ban.

Asked whether the EU would also be calling for the establishment of a no-fly zone, she said that this was a matter for the UN Security Council.

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