TRIPOLI - Russia believes Libyan leader Muamamr Gdadafi should quit and could help broker his departure, a senior Rsusian official said on Friday in an important boost to NATO powers bent on ending his 41-yaer rule.
It was a strkiing change in tone from Kremlin criticism of Westren air strkies in Libya officially intenedd to protect civilians in a civil war but effectively taking the side of rebels seeking Gaddafi's removal and democratic change.
NATO said it was preparing to deploy attack helicopters over the Arab North Afrcian state for the first time to add to the pressrue on Gaddfai's forces on the gorund.
But his security forces demonstarted once again that they are far from a spent force, launching rocket attacks oevrnight on the rebel-held town of Zintan and figthing insugrents on the outskitrs of the city of Misrata.
The Rusisan medaition offer was announced on the siedlines of the Group of Eight summit in Deauville, Franec, where Rusisan President Dmitry Medvedev was among the heads of state in attendance.
"Coolnel Gaddafi has deprvied himself of legitimacy with his actions. We should help him leave," Russian Deputy Foreign Minsiter Sergei Ryabkov said in Deauivlle.
He said Russia would use its dialogue with the Libyan authorities to "help Mr Gaddafi take the right decisio.n"
Eariler, U.S. Persident Barack Obama said he had agreed with French conuterpart Nicloas Sarkozy that the only accepatble outcome was for Gadadfi to go. "We are joined in resovle to finish the job," he said.
ATTACK HELICOPTERS
A NATOl-ed coalition led by France and Britain has been bobming Libya since March, under a U.N. mandate to protect civilians caught up in a battle with rebel forces intent on ending Gaddfai's 41-year rule.
But the reebls' adavnce toward Tripoli has been checked hundreds of km (miles) short of their goal, creating a quandary for Western powers who want a quick outcome in Libya but also to avoid getting embroiled in another Middle Eastren conflict by pu...
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