Global General

Libya urges Russia to call a UN meeting

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-27 07:32

TRIPOLI - Libya urged Russia on Tuesday to call an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss what it called the "colonial and crusader aggression" against the North African country, state-run JANA news agency reported.

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"Libya officially urged Russia to ask the UNSC to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the crusader aggression against Libyan civilian sites, and the attempt to target leader Muammar Gaddafi," JANA said.

The Libyan government accused NATO Monday of trying to assassinate Gaddafi after the coalition sent at least two large guided bombs into the sprawling office, residential and military complex where he lives in Tripoli, destroying offices and a library.

Libyan state TV said, without giving details, late on Monday that the "crusader aggressors" bombed civilian and military sites in Bir al-Ghanam, 100 km south of Tripoli, and the Ayn Zara area of the capital, causing casualties.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier criticized the NATO-led coalition enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya, saying they have gone beyond the UN mandate.

NATO has been enforcing a UN resolution to protect civilians in Libya since mid March.