The United Nations has clashed with Libya over its human rights record at a review of compliance with an international covenant on civil and political rights.

The UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern at the use of the death penalty and flogging as punishment for drug trafficking and drunkeness respectively.

But Libya's UN ambassador accused the UN of prejudice and said it should pay more attention to the suffering caused by sanctions imposed in 1992.

The sanctions are due to be reviewed later today by the UN Security Council in New York which is expected to extend them for another four months.