Russia urges immediate Libya truce
Source: Agencies |
March 23, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RUSSIA'S defense minister called for an immediate cease-fire in Libya yesterday, telling United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates that it is the best way to avoid civilian casualties.
Speaking after meeting Anatoly Serdyukov, Gates responded that the coalition is already "going to great lengths" to avoid civilian deaths, and charged that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is lying about claims of casualties. Gates also insisted that significant military fighting would recede in the next few days once Libya's air defenses are taken out.
The Libyan military assault has become a bone of contention for the Russians, even triggering a rare dispute between the country's top two leaders, President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. It was unclear yesterday what impact that may have on the ongoing military action, but the explosive issue further complicated Gates' meetings with Russian leaders who are already at odds with the US over plans for a missile defense system in Europe.
Gates wondered aloud about why the Russians believe that so many civilians are being killed.
"I'm a little curious frankly about the tone that has been taken," Gates told reporters traveling with him shortly after his meeting with Serdyukov at the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow. "It's perfectly evident that the vast majority, if not nearly all, of the civilian casualties have been inflicted by Gadhafi."
He said most of the targets have been in isolated, unpopulated areas, adding that "it's almost as though some people here are taking at face value Gadhafi's claims about the number of civilian casualties - which as far as I'm concerned are just outright lies."
Gates met with Serdyukov before a scheduled session with Medvedev. But he was not expected to see Putin, who is out of the country. On Monday, Putin railed against the strikes on Libya, likening them to "a medieval call for a crusade."
Putin appeared to link the Libyan action to the ongoing debate between the US and Russia over the planned European missile defense shield, suggesting that it proved Russia is correct to heighten its own defenses.
Medvedev, however, issued a rare rebuke of Putin's statements, saying that using an expression like crusades is unacceptable. And he defended Russia's move to abstain last week on the United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing military action in Libya, saying the UN move was a legitimate response to Gadhafi's "crimes against his own people."
Standing next to Gates at the end of their meeting, Serdyukov tiptoed carefully through the subject, saying through an interpreter that Russia backs the UN resolution, but it envisions only measures to protect civilians.
Unfortunately, he said, there have been "real hostilities" that are "destroying civilian facilities and killing civilians," and that should not be allowed to happen. An immediate cease-fire, he said, is the surest way to gain the security of the civilians.
Meanwhile, even as the US vows to relinquish the lead in the Libyan operation, there was discord in Europe over whether it should be turned over to NATO.
US officials, including Gates, have said the US expects to hand over leadership, either to NATO or to the British and French, in a matter of days.
Turkey blocked NATO's participation in the operation, while Italy issued a veiled threat to withdraw the use of its bases unless the alliance is put in charge.
Speaking after meeting Anatoly Serdyukov, Gates responded that the coalition is already "going to great lengths" to avoid civilian deaths, and charged that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is lying about claims of casualties. Gates also insisted that significant military fighting would recede in the next few days once Libya's air defenses are taken out.
The Libyan military assault has become a bone of contention for the Russians, even triggering a rare dispute between the country's top two leaders, President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. It was unclear yesterday what impact that may have on the ongoing military action, but the explosive issue further complicated Gates' meetings with Russian leaders who are already at odds with the US over plans for a missile defense system in Europe.
Gates wondered aloud about why the Russians believe that so many civilians are being killed.
"I'm a little curious frankly about the tone that has been taken," Gates told reporters traveling with him shortly after his meeting with Serdyukov at the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow. "It's perfectly evident that the vast majority, if not nearly all, of the civilian casualties have been inflicted by Gadhafi."
He said most of the targets have been in isolated, unpopulated areas, adding that "it's almost as though some people here are taking at face value Gadhafi's claims about the number of civilian casualties - which as far as I'm concerned are just outright lies."
Gates met with Serdyukov before a scheduled session with Medvedev. But he was not expected to see Putin, who is out of the country. On Monday, Putin railed against the strikes on Libya, likening them to "a medieval call for a crusade."
Putin appeared to link the Libyan action to the ongoing debate between the US and Russia over the planned European missile defense shield, suggesting that it proved Russia is correct to heighten its own defenses.
Medvedev, however, issued a rare rebuke of Putin's statements, saying that using an expression like crusades is unacceptable. And he defended Russia's move to abstain last week on the United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing military action in Libya, saying the UN move was a legitimate response to Gadhafi's "crimes against his own people."
Standing next to Gates at the end of their meeting, Serdyukov tiptoed carefully through the subject, saying through an interpreter that Russia backs the UN resolution, but it envisions only measures to protect civilians.
Unfortunately, he said, there have been "real hostilities" that are "destroying civilian facilities and killing civilians," and that should not be allowed to happen. An immediate cease-fire, he said, is the surest way to gain the security of the civilians.
Meanwhile, even as the US vows to relinquish the lead in the Libyan operation, there was discord in Europe over whether it should be turned over to NATO.
US officials, including Gates, have said the US expects to hand over leadership, either to NATO or to the British and French, in a matter of days.
Turkey blocked NATO's participation in the operation, while Italy issued a veiled threat to withdraw the use of its bases unless the alliance is put in charge.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
