Canada freezes Gadhafi regime's assets

TORONTO (AP) — Canada has frozen more than two billion worth of assets belonging to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said 2.3 billion Canadian dollars ($2.4 billion) worth of assets were frozen. Soudas did not provide further details.

Canada is also sending a warship to the Libyan coast, adding to the international military buildup in the region.

The frigate, HMCS Charlottetown, is expected to conduct as-yet-undefined humanitarian relief operations in conjunction with an American carrier battle group led by the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise.

Defense Minister Peter MacKay says the ship will increase Canada's ability to evacuate Canadians and to prepare for any need, including the enforcement of sanctions.