Russia Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire in Libya Skip to main content

Russia Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire in Libya

Russia's defense minister is criticizing U.S.-led air strikes in Libya, saying some of the strikes have killed innocent civilians.

Anatoly Serdyukov spoke Tuesday in Moscow following a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Serdyukov told reporters the surest way to protect civilians would be an immediate cease-fire and dialogue between the Libyan government and rebel forces.

For his part, Gates rejected the claims, saying the casualty figures coming from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's government are, in his words, "outright lies."

Russia abstained from the United Nations Security Council vote that authorized the air strikes against Libya to go forward.

The United States is expected to hand off the lead role in the air strikes, but Gates said no decision has been made about who will take the lead.

Gates also expressed concern about the instability in Yemen, saying the Yemeni branch of al-Qaida is perhaps the most dangerous of all the terror network's cells.

Later, the U.S. defense secretary is scheduled to meet with President Dmitry Medvedev.

Some of Gates' discussions were expected to focus on military and technical cooperation with Russia, including U.S. plans for a missile defense in Europe.

Russia has opposed the plan, saying it jeopardizes its own security. Washington says the system of radar stations and missile interceptors would guard Europe against potential attacks from Iran, and is working to gain Moscow's support.

On Monday, Gates called for further cooperation between the United States and Russia, especially in combating terrorism. He praised Russia's support in the war in Afghanistan and urged the country to take part in other international missions.

Gates is making his final visit to Russia as secretary of defense. The former CIA director, who spent years gathering intelligence on the Soviet Union during the Cold War, plans to step down from his post later this year.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/US-Defense-Secretary-Set-to-Meet-With-Russian-Leaders-118418699.html
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chronology of the Press in Burma

1836 – 1846 * During this period the first English-language newspaper was launched under British-ruled Tenasserim, southern  Burma . The first ethnic Karen-language and Burmese-language newspapers also appear in this period.     March 3, 1836 —The first English-language newspaper,  The Maulmain Chronicle , appears in the city of Moulmein in British-ruled Tenasserim. The paper, first published by a British official named E.A. Blundell, continued up until the 1950s. September 1842 —Tavoy’s  Hsa-tu-gaw  (the  Morning Star ), a monthly publication in the Karen-language of  Sgaw ,  is established by the Baptist mission. It is the first ethnic language newspaper. Circulation reached about three hundred until its publication ceased in 1849. January 1843 —The Baptist mission publishes a monthly newspaper, the Christian  Dhamma  Thadinsa  (the  Religious Herald ), in Moulmein. Supposedly the first Burmese-language newspaper, it continued up until the first year of the second Angl
Post a Comment
Read more

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do
1 comment
Read more

Is 160 enough? One Indian man's family

By Sumnima Udas , CNN October 31, 2011 -- Updated 0857 GMT (1657 HKT) Ziona, center, with his has 39 wives, 86 children and 35 grandchildren in rural Baktwang village, India. STORY HIGHLIGHTS One man in India is the patriarch of a family of 160 in rural India Ziona, who only goes by his first name, has 39 wives, 86 children and 35 grandchildren. Ziona's father, Chana, founded the Christian sect in Baktwang that promotes polygamy "I never wanted to get married but that's the path God has chosen for me" Mizoram, India (CNN) -- The world's population hits 7 billion this week, but Ziona, the patriarch of what may be the biggest family in the world, is not bothered. "I don't care about overpopulation in India ... I believe God has chosen us to be like this (have big families). Those who are born into this family don't want to leave this tradition so we just keep growing and growing," he says with a smile. Ziona, who only goes by his f
Post a Comment
Read more