U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed outrage at reports of pro-democracy protesters in Libya being shot at by government security forces.

The U.N. chief said in a news conference that such attacks against civilians are a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, and that those responsible for brutally shedding the blood of innocents must be punished.

He also condemned what he called "egregious violations" of human rights and said that the violence must stop.

Ban said that the current situation is unpredictable and could go in any number of directions, and that at this critical juncture, it is imperative that the international community maintain unity and act together to ensure a prompt and peaceful transition.