OTTAWA - Canada joined the United Nations and a number of Western countries in slapping sanctions against Libya following the deadly crackdown on protesters by the regime of Moammar Gadhafi.
But Canada decided to go beyond the sanctions announced Saturday by the United Nations Security Council, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Sunday.
Canada imposed an asset freeze and prohibit financial transactions with the government of Libya, its institutions and agencies, and the Libyan Central Bank, Harper said.
"These actions will help restrict the movement of an access to money and weapons for those responsible for violence against the Libyan people."
The UN sanctions included an arms embargo and urged UN member countries to freeze the assets of Gadhafi, four of his sons and a daughter.
It also backed a travel ban on the Gadhafi family and close associates, including leaders of the revolutionary committees accused of much of the violence against regime opponents.
Canada also announced it was sending more military transport aircraft to the region to be on hand to aid in evacuation efforts, the government said Sunday.
A total of four aircraft were on standby. It's estimated there are as many as 100 Canadians still in Libya, mostly oil workers.
Efforts continued all weekend to contact those Canadians,Harper said.
"The emergency operation centre of the department of foreign affairs is continuing to contact registered Canadians by phone where possible regarding opportunities to leave the country by any possible means."
