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Russia and China Lead Opposition to Air Assault on Libya

   VOA News  March 20, 2011
   An activist of an anti-Kremlin opposition group, The Left Front, holds
   a  poster  reading  'Hands  off  Libya'  during his picket at the NATO
   representative office in Moscow, Russia, March 19, 2011

Photo: AP

   An activist of an anti-Kremlin opposition group, The Left Front, holds
   a  poster  reading  'Hands  off  Libya'  during his picket at the NATO
   representative office in Moscow, Russia, March 19, 2011

   Opposition to the Western air assault on Libya has come from a variety
   of  quarters  with  Russia and China expressing regret and the African
   Union calling for it to end.
   Both  China and Russia abstained when the U.N. Security Council passed
   a  resolution  on  Thursday  which authorized "all necessary means" to
   protect Libyan civilians and enforce a ceasefire.
   Pope  Benedict  issued  a  statement on Sunday that urged military and
   political leaders to consider the safety of Libyan citizens and ensure
   their access to humanitarian aid.
   The  AU's  panel  of five heads of state, after meeting in Nouakchott,
   Mauritania,   called   on   the   international   community   to  show
   restraint.The  panelĀ   had  planned  to travel to Tripoli, the Libyan
   capital, on Sunday to meet with Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi. But the
   trip was canceled.
   The  African leaders have convened a meeting on Friday in Addis Ababa,
   Ethiopia,  that  includes  representatives  of the United Nations, the
   Arab  League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the AU to
   seek a solution to the Libyan crisis.

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