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December 23, 2011

U.S., Russia Spar Over Probe of Libyan Civilian Deaths 
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The United Nations Security Council has rejected a probe into the deaths
of scores of civilians in the NATO bombing of Libya earlier this year.
In a story featured on Thursday's Democracy Now!, a New York Times
investigation found at least 40 civilians, and perhaps more than 70,
were killed by NATO. The dead included at least 29 women or children. On
Thursday, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin,
said a probe is needed to determine the exact toll.

Vitaly Churkin: "There is a big controversy among the members of the
council about whether or not 1973 was implemented properly with Russia
and some other members of the council arguing that it was not, that it
was exceeded by the NATO campaign, but the matter of civilian casualties
we believe is particularly, from the bombing campaign, is particularly
important because we need to have a serious analysis."

The United States has refused to allow a U.N. Security Council probe
into Libyan civilian deaths. In response to the proposal, U.S.
Ambassador Susan Rice accused Russia of trying to distract from its
opposition to a measure condemning the Syrian crackdown.

Susan Rice: "This is a distraction and a diversion and it is a diversion
from the fact that this council's actions and that of NATO and its
partners saved tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of Libyan
lives. That is something we should be celebrating. It is certainly
something that the people of Libya are celebrating. And if the Libyans
want to work with NATO to investigate any concerns they have, we are
more than willing to do that. I think it's notable that we have not
heard that call from the Libyan government. So let us see this for what
it is. This is duplicative, it's redundant, it's superfluous and it's a
stunt."



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