Russia won't support any U.N. resolution extending use of force in Libya: FM

17:22, 26 April 2011

MOSCOW. April 26. KAZINFORM Russia would not support a new U.N. resolution on Libya if the document led to further escalation of fighting in the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday. Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

However, no new resolution on Libya had been submitted to the U.N. Security Council so far, Lavrov said at a meeting in the Georgian breakaway region Abkhazia.

The minister stressed, if a new U.N. resolution would imply an immediate end to violence and call for negotiations, "Russia would support it unconditionally."

On Saturday, Lavrov called for the implementation of relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and an immediate ceasefire in Libya during a phone conversation with Libyan Prime Minister al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi.

In the talks, al-Mahmoudi said the Libyan leadership was ready to fully observe U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.

Resolution 1970 imposed an arms embargo against Libya and slapped sanctions on members of Gaddafi's inner circle. Resolution 1973 authorized a no-fly zone over Libya. Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version

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