No ground operation in Libya without UN mandate: Russia

The Deacon Herald

Aware of NATO and its allies planning to launch a ground military campaign in Libya, Russia has said that such a plan requires UN Security Council mandate

"The information shows that both NATO and EU are working on the similar plans. The EU is developing these plans to secure humanitarian convoys, though it is being stressed that it would take place after the UN gave the green light," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Talking to a weekly analytical programme 'Post Scriptum' of TVC channel Lavrov said, "If anybody wants to ask for this mandate, welcome to the UN Security Council. We will discuss, try to understand what is planned, because the deviation from the mandate that we are watching now, are enough to learn lessons". On March 17, Russia and China had abstained in the voting on the UN Security Council resolution imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, which paved the way for the US-led anti-Gaddafi coalition's aerial strikes. The command of the operation was shifted from a US-led international coalition to NATO in late March. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev defended Moscow abstention on Libya vote, while Prime Minister Vladimir Putin qualified the UN Security Council resolution as 'flawed' and said it reminds of the medieval Crusade.