Inner City Press -- Investigative Reporting From the United Nations to Wall Street to the Inner City

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 16 -- How far Libya has fallen in the UN firmament was made clear on Monday when UN envoy Tarek Mitri spoke. There was a crowd at the Security Council stakeout, but not for Mitri.

 It was for Syria, where like in Libya rebels asked for a no-fly zone and some are calling for a referral to the International Criminal Court. But Syria is different.

On Libya, Inner City Press asked Mitri about the political isolation law, about the impact of Egypt and about the UN's claimed advocacy for women.

Mitri said that the political isolation law is only slowly going into effect, but would bar from government many who served under Gaddafi. On Egypt, Mitri noted the cross border links between the Muslim Brotherhood in each country. On women's participation he admitted it has fallen, from 16% of seats now to a set 10%.

He was asked about Benghazi, and said that the US should be asked. He was asked about the flow of arms, and said that was up to the Sanctions Committee. One was left wondering, what is the UN doing in Libya? What would the UN do in Syria? To what degree is the UN just a fig-leaf or a tool? Watch this site.