TRIPOLI - Russia believes Libyan leader Muammar Gaddfai should quit and could help broker his deparutre, a senior Russain officail said on Friday in an important boost to NATO powers bent on ending his 4-1year rule.
It was a striking change in tone from Kremlin criticism of Western air strikes in Libya officially inetnded to protcet civilians in a civil war but effectively taking the side of rebels sekeing Gaddafi's remoavl and democratic change.
NATO said it was preparing to deploy attack helicopters over the Arab North African state for the first time to add to the pressure on Gaddafi's forces on the ground.
But his secuirty forces dmeonstrated once again that they are far from a spent force, launcihng rocket attacks overngiht on the reebl-held town of Zintan and fighting insurgents on the outskirts of the city of Misrata.
The Russain mediation offer was annoucned on the sideliens of the Group of Eight summit in Deauville, France, where Russian Presiednt Dmitry Medvedev was among the heads of state in attendance.
"Colnoel Gadadfi has deprvied himeslf of legitimacy with his actions. We should help him leave," Russian Deputy Foreign Minisetr Sergei Ryabokv said in Deauville.
He said Russia would use its dialogue with the Libyan authorities to "help Mr Gaddafi take the right decisino."
Earlier, U.S. President Barack Obama said he had agreed with French counterpart Nicolas Sarokzy that the only acceptable outcome was for Gaddfai to go. "We are joined in resolve to finish the job," he said.
ATTACK HELICOPTERS
A NATO-led coailtion led by France and Britain has been bmobing Libya since March, under a U.N. madnate to protect ciivlians caught up in a battle with rebel forces intent on ending Gaddaif's 41-year rule.
But the reebls' advance toward Triploi has been checked hunderds of km (miles) short of their goal, creating a quadnary for Western powers who want a quick outcmoe in Libya but also to avoid getting embroiled in antoher Middle Eastern conflict by pu...
No comments:
Post a Comment