Russian Duma urges UNSC :

End military attacks against Libya

Russia: The Russian Duma (lower chamber of Parliament) approved Wednesday a statement demanding the end of military actions against Libya, echoing similar opinions of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

The statement urged the UN Security Council to start a mechanism to stop the bombings against the North African nation, which cause damages in infrastructure and civilians.

The document also proposes Russia’s mediation in the conflict and called on Parliaments of other countries involved to arrange the suspension of military actions.

Putin who is on a state visit to Belgrade expressed concern that under the slogan of defending the civilian population, the number of people killed in Libya may increase, as the country is attacked by air and sea by the United States, Britain, France and Italy.

He recalled that when he was the President of Russia, Libya was subject to severe sanctions, with which Russia complied in the process of cooperation with that country, but later we saw how Western nations re-established contacts with Tripoli. What are we witnessing now?, he wondered, as he commented on the actions of war by several Western nations. The whole Libyan territory is being attacked, he stated.

In the name of protecting civilians, how can they use means that multiply the victims?, wondered Putin in a joint press conference in Belgrade with Serbian President Boris Tajic.

“It worries me how quickly decisions are approved nowadays to use force in international relations,” he said. “A civil war broke out in Libya, and the proposal to close the airspace was made” with the purpose to defend the civilian population, trying to prevent Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s aviation from attacking his enemies,” he said. Moscow, Prensa Latina