The Labour Party is “closely following the unfolding events” in Libya, which it described as “very worrying”.

A party spokesman said Labour “deeply regrets the loss of lives and condemns all form of violence. In particular, we are worried by the instability in the region and its repercussions on Malta. We hope common sense prevails.”

The Party of European Socialists went a step further and condemned the “violent reactions of the Libyan authorities” against “peaceful demonstrators” saying it “deplores the high number of innocent victims among the civilian population”.PES president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said he was very concerned about the “violent and brutal way” in which Muammar Gaddafi’s regime was trying to break the demonstrations.

“The targeted killing of civilians, who are peacefully protesting for a shift to democracy and reforms, is unacceptable. This repression against peaceful demonstrators must stop and an open and meaningful dialogue has to be initiated,” he said.Moreover, PES called on the EU to encourage the transition process in Libya and to guarantee financial support for the country. In the light of the oppressive answer to the protests, the EU should consider sanctions against the Libyan regime to send a strong signal that their barriers to democracy were unacceptable, it said.