REUTERS UK: Russia's foreign minister warned world powers on Thursday against meddling in the affairs of Libya and other African countries, saying military intervention would be unacceptable.
Moscow could use its clout, siding with fellow permanent U.N. Security Council member China, to temper Western policy and influence global actions, as it has done with Iran in an eight-year-long stand-off over its disputed nuclear activity.
Sergei Lavrov said Western discussion of proposals for a no-fly zone over the North African country was premature and had not yet been put before the Security Council, where Russia holds veto-wielding power.
He added that Russia would, however, "closely study" any such initiatives to provide support to rebel forces battling to oust long-time Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. >>> | Moscow | Thursday, March 10, 2011
