EU diplomatic chief Catherine Ashton on Sunday warned of "consequences" for Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi and said human-rights violations in the country "must stop now."

"Kadhafi and the Libyan authorities know that their unacceptable and outrageous actions will have consequences," she said in a statement.

"The violation of human rights must stop now," she added.

"I stress the need to hold to account those responsible for attacks on civilians," Ashton said, adding that she welcomed a decision by the UN Security Council to refer the bloodshed to the International Criminal Court.

"Impunity for crimes committed will not be tolerated by the international community," she said.

The EU's foreign affairs chief did not go as far as the United States or France, however, in explicitly calling for Kadhafi to immediately leave power.

"I once again urge him to stop the violence to bring about a peaceful resolution of the situation which is acceptable to the people of Libya. The people of Libya have spoken and Colonel Kadhafi must listen," she said.

Some European capitals have been wary of calling for Kadhafi's immediate departure, worried about their citizens in the country or, as in the cases of Italy or Malta, concerned about a possible influx of refugees from the North African country.

US President Barack Obama has called on Kadhafi to "leave now," declaring that the Libyan leader had lost his right to rule after attacking his own people to put down a popular uprising.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday that Kadhafi "must go" and warned of "investigations and sanctions" over the bloody crackdowns on protesters.