Russia says opposes any ground operation in Libya

Reuters

(Reuters) - Russia on Friday said that it staunchly opposes any foreign ground operation in Libya and criticized a Western-led grouping that has pledged aid to the rebels fighting Muammar Gaddafi's government forces.

After talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the U.N. Security Council resolution that authorized military intervention in Libya "directly and unequivocally rules out" ground operations.

"The position of the Russian Federation remains absolutely unchanged," he said.

Veto-wielding permanent Security Council member Russia has accused the Western coalition enforcing no-fly zones in Libya of overstepping its mandate. It has warned against arming rebels.

Lavrov criticized a contact group that agreed on Thursday to set up a non-military fund to help the rebels, warning its members -- which include the United States, France and Britain -- not to try to eclipse the U.N. Security Council.

"We proceed from the position that the informal contact group comprises responsible states and that all of them ratified the U.N. Charter and are required to respect the authority of the Security Council."
"The efforts of all ... should be focused on a peaceful resolution, and not on the support of one of the sides in what is essentially an internal armed conflict -- that is, a civil war," Lavrov said.