China, Russia slam attacks on Libya

Wed May 4, 2011 8:51PM

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin (L) speaking withChina's UN envoy Li Baodong.

The Russian and Chinese envoys to the United Nations have raised alarm on the NATO airstrikes on Libya, saying the attacks exceed the UN Resolution 1973 that authorized a no-fly zone.

"Unfortunately it must be noted that actions by NATO-led coalition forces also lead to civilian casualties. This took place in particular during recent bombings of Tripoli," Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said during a meeting of UN Security Council members on Wednesday.

Churkin insisted that any military action outside the UN mandate would be unacceptable. Resolution 1973, approved in February, authorized the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya to protect people fighting against the long-time rule of Muammar Gaddafi.

China's UN envoy Li Baodong has voiced opposition to “any arbitrary interpretation of the council's resolutions,” calling on the international community to come up with a political solution to the crisis in Libya.

Criticisms against NATO operations in Libya mounted on Saturday when Gaddafi's youngest son, Saif al-Arab and three of his grandchildren were killed in an attack on Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound in eastern Tripoli.

However, France's UN Ambassador Gerard Araud said Gaddafi has committed crimes against humanity and his atrocities justify the need to intervene in Libya to protect civilians.

Gaddafi forces continued shelling the western city of Misratah on Wednesday, killing five people and wounding several others. Though hundreds of people have lost their lives during the two-month bloody siege on Misratah, NATO warplanes have recently stepped up attacks on the capital, Tripoli.

MA/MGH