United Nations, Feb 26 (IANS) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for the international community "to do everything possible" for immediate protection of civilians in Libya and consider undertaking "a concrete action".

"I strongly believe that the first obligation of the international community is to do everything possible to ensure the immediate protection of civilians at demonstrable risk," Xinhua quoted Ban as saying in a statement Friday.

"It is time for the Security Council to consider concrete action," he said.

"The hours and the days ahead will be decisive for Libyans and their country, with equally important implications for the wider region."

Ban made the statement while briefing an open meeting of the UN Security Council on the happenings in Libya.

"There have been continuing reports of violence and the indiscriminate use of force," Ban said, adding: "Estimates indicate that more than 1,000 people have been killed."

Against the backdrop of the current situation in Libya, Ban said: "The international community has the responsibility to step in and take protective action in a collective, timely and decisive manner."

"There has been continuing reports of violence, indiscriminate use of force" against civilians in Libya over the past days," Ban said, urging the international community to step in and take "protective action in a collective, timely and decisive manner".

"Fundamental issues of peace and stability are at stake, most immediately at this moment in Libya," said Ban, who described what is going on in Libya as "the deeply disturbing situation".

Ban is scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington Monday, and Libya is expected to be high on the agenda of the upcoming talks.