Russian ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin on Tuesday
said NATO operations in Libya are aimed only at ousting Libyan leader
Muammar Gaddafi but not fulfilling UN resolutions, according to RIA
Novosti news agency.
"These actions have been reduced to (an attempt to) overthrow the
Gaddafi regime, not fulfill UN resolutions," Rogozin was quoted as
saying.
"This is in open conflict with the UN Security Council resolutions," he added.
Rogozin also revealed that Russia will formally ask NATO to clarify
an imminent ground operation in Libya during a NATO-Russia Council
meeting on Wednesday.
"We have information, and we are going to double-check this
information by filing direct written inquiries to NATO," Rogozin said.
NATO said its air campaign had rolled back the ability of government
forces to attack the opposition fighters and their supporters, and had
effectively forced Gaddafi himself into hiding.
However, the three-month conflict seems to have reached in a
deadlock, as the opposition controls the east part of Libya and some of
the west but cannot advance westward further to the capital of Tripoli.
The UN Security Council resolution 1970 imposed an arms embargo
against Libya and slapped sanctions on members of Gaddafi's inner
circle, while resolution 1973 authorized a no-fly zone over Libya. Xinhua
