NATO strikes on Libya amount to land operation: Moscow
June 4th, 2011 - 7:06 pm ICT by IANSOdessa (Russia), June 4 (IANS/RIA Novosti) NATO’s actions in Libya are gradually evolving into a land operation, Russia’s foreign minister warned Saturday.
The French armed forces website said Saturday that British and French light aviation helicopters of the ground forces had delivered pinpoint strikes at Libya Friday night as part of NATO’s military operation.
“We know that France and Britain intend to use combat helicopters, which we see as intentional or unintentional development [of NATO's operation into] a land operation,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Russia originally opposed any international military interference in the armed confrontation between supporters and opponents of Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year regime in Libya.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said last week that Gaddafi’s regime had lost its legitimacy and the Libyan leader must leave his post.
Moscow is sending a presidential envoy, Mikhail Margelov to Libya next week for talks with the rebels’ ruling body.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
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Tags: combat helicopters, confrontation, dg, dmitry medvedev, foreign minister, french armed forces, french light, interference, legitimacy, libya, libyan leader, light aviation, military operation, muammar gaddafi, nato strikes, odessa, presidential envoy, ria novosti, russian president, sergei lavrov