Russia, Libya FMs meet over crisis

MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Libyan counterpart Abdul Ati al-Obeidi met here Wednesday to discuss a political solution to the crisis in the North African country.

During the Libya-initiated meeting, Lavrov stressed the "primary" task to immediately stop the bloodshed and get into political tracks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

Calling for early talks on future democratic arrangements in Libya, Lavrov urged Tripoli to confirm its intention to follow the UN Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973.

He reiterated Russia's intention to facilitate international efforts to resolve the conflict.

The Libyan foreign minister said Libya would welcome Russia's efforts in the peaceful settlement of the conflict, stressing that "a peaceful solution should be developed by all Libyans, not by Benghazi council only."

He added that Tripoli has not been ready to discuss Muammar Gadhafi's leaving.

Also on Wednesday, Russia's envoy for African affairs Mikhail Margelov said that a peaceful solution in Libya was possible only with UN and AU participation. He welcomed the start of consultations between Tripoli and Paris.