Tripoli may ask Russia to mediate Libyan conflict - expert

08:28, 17 May 2011

MOSCOW. May 17. KAZINFORM Representatives of the Tripoli government may ask Moscow to mediate the ongoing conflict in Libya at Tuesday's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, an expert said. Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

"I think mediation [request] should not be ruled out. One thing I can say for sure is that any military aid [to Libya] is impossible," said Vitaly Naumkin, a leading Russian expert on the Middle East.

"It's evident that the meeting will be held on Tripoli's initiative. Taking into account Russia's criticism of the western coalition and its operation in Libya, it's quite obvious that Tripoli today seeks Moscow help," the scientist added.

Lavrov met with UN Secretary General's special envoy to Libya, Abdul-Ilah al-Khatib, late on Monday, but his meeting with representatives of the rebel Benghazi government has been delayed "for technical reasons."

The revolt in Libya against Gaddafi's forty-year rule, which began in mid-February, has already claimed thousands of lives, with Gaddafi's troops maintaining their combat capabilities despite NATO airstrikes against them. Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full verison

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