Italy and France have called on the international community to cease shipping oil products to the regime of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and also asked market operators not to purchase Libyan crude oil.

Italy and France will not accept hydrocarbons sold by Gaddafi and his regime, read a joint statement from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

We urge all countries and oil market operators to reject any type of trade or transport of hydrocarbons that could benefit Gaddafi's regime.”

The joint statement also called for foreign nations to stop deliveries of crude or refined oil products that could help attacks against the population.

According to a March report from Reuters, about 32 percent of Libyan oil is sold to Italy, 14 percent to Germany, 10 percent each to France and China and 5 percent to the United States.

Earlier this month, The European Union added 26 energy companies to its sanction list over accusations they helped to finance the Gaddafi regime.

Separately, an international group will meet in Rome next month to discuss ways to help Libyan rebels fight against Gaddafi.

European union China Germany Crude oil