Russia has voiced regret over foreign military intervention in Libya and denounced “indiscriminate” use of force by Western nations in the North African country.
“Moscow regrets this armed action launched with reference to hastily passed U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website on Saturday evening.
“We are convinced that for the internal conflict in Libya to be settled credibly it is necessary to stop bloodshed and launch dialogue among Libyans themselves,” Mr. Lukashevich said.
In another statement issued on Sunday Moscow called for a halt to “indiscriminate” use of force in Libya.
“We strongly urge the countries concerned to stop indiscriminate use of force,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
He added that it was “impermissible” to use the “controversial” Security Council resolution for achieving aims that “clearly go beyond its mandate of taking only steps to protect the civilian population.”
Russia, along with the other BRIC countries and Germany, abstained in the vote on Resolution 1973, which called for imposing a no-fly zone over Libya.
“My fear is that the West’s military operation in Libya would push all parties to the conflict in that country to re-unite and fight the invaders,” said Margelov, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament.
(source:the hindu)
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France sends carrier to Libya, conducts more flights

PARIS | Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:59am EDT
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(Reuters) - France sent an aircraft carrier towardLibya on Sunday and its warplanes carried out further operations over the north African country, armed forces and defense officials said.
The Charles de Gaulle carrier, the flagship of the French fleet, left the southern port of Toulon at around 1200 GMT, carrying around 1,800 crew members and some 20 aircraft.
The carrier was accompanied by an attack submarine, several frigates and a refueling ship, defense officials said.
"The French operations continue," said a source at armed forces headquarters. "French planes are in place (over Libya)."
President Nicolas Sarkozy's government, alongside Britain, was at the forefront of a campaign to win U.N. backing for a no-fly zone over Libya and to build an international coalition for military strikes to enforce it.
French planes fired the first shots on Saturday in the campaign to force Muammar Gaddafi's troops to cease fire and end attacks on civilians.
FILLIP FOR SARKOZY
France's leadership in the diplomatic and military arenas appeared to have rallied public opinion behind President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose approval ratings have been languishing near record lows ahead of presidential elections early next year.
Elections for local councilors this Sunday and next will provide the last litmus test before the 2012 vote [ID:nLDE72F0ID].
Even former prime minister Dominique de Villepin, one of Sarkozy's bitterest political critics, applauded the government's role.
"France has, in these circumstances, been true to its ideals," he told the Journal du Dimanche newspapers.
Some cautioned, however, that the attacks could bring repercussions in terms of domestic security.
"We're preparing for all eventualities," Britain's ambassador in Paris, Peter Westmacott, told Europe 1 radio. "He (Gaddafi) has been involved in a lot of terrorist activities in the past. We can't rule anything out."
(Writing by Daniel Flynn; editing by Mike Peacock)
(source:Reuters)
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