Russia has condemned the NATO air strike on Tripoli that killed a son and grandchildren of Muammar Qadhafi and called for a ceasefire and talks without pre-conditions.
Noting that the air strikes also hit a school for disabled children, a child protection centre and other civilian buildings, Moscow stated “growing concern” over the killing of civilians in Libya and expressed “serious doubts” about NATO claims that it was not targeting Mr. Qadhafi and his family.
“As we have warned, the disproportionate use of force that moreover goes beyond U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which in no way sanctions government change in Libya, is leading to disastrous consequences and the death of innocent people,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement posted on its website on Sunday.
The statement renewed Moscow's call for a ceasefire in Libya, and for the first time, urged launching the process of “political settlement without any pre-conditions”. Russia abstained in the March 17 vote on Resolution 1973 imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, which paved the way for NATO air strikes against the Qadhafi forces, but has since increasingly criticised the U.S.-led coalition for violating the U.N. mandate.
