The UN Security
Council (AFP Photo / Emmanuel Dunand)
Source: Russia Today
http://rt.com/news/us-russia-libya-statement-068/
The United States has blocked a draft statement, proposed
by Russia, on the resolution of violence in the Libyan town of Bani Walid,
which has been under siege for weeks. The statement called for a peaceful
solution to the conflict.
Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin said the move “can't
be serious,” reminding the American delegation of the deadly attack in
Benghazi that claimed the lives of four US diplomats in September.
“Blocking a draft statement that called to solve the country’s
political problems without violence is very strange,” Churkin said. “This
is a case when it is difficult to explain the US delegation’s actions in
rational terms.”
The statement drafted by Russia on Bani Walid called on
the Libyan authorities “to take urgent steps to resolve the conflict by
peaceful means and to preserve the rights of all Libyan citizens.” It also
expressed concern about the significant escalation of violence in and around
the city of Bani Walid in recent days.
Lawrence Freeman, from news magazine Executive
Intelligence Review says the US will block any peaceful solution to the ongoing
violence in Libya, because stability in the region is not in its interests.
“The ambassador from Russia made a perfectly reasonable
proposal to quiet down the violence,” he said. “And he
would expect that the United States, as a super power, would respond in a
rational manner. The problem is that President Obama and his UN envoy Susan
Rice – they are not interested in developing peace in Libya and in the whole
Middle East area. And therefore they are going to torpedo any moves that the
Russians make that would tend to quiet the situation down.”
Reports from the small town indicate
innocent civilians are becoming the victims
of fighting between pro-government forces and Gaddafi loyalists.
The latest round of fighting was provoked by the death of
Omran Shaaban, the rebel from Misrata credited with capturing Muammar Gaddafi,
who was hiding in a drain pipe in Sirte on October 20, 2011. He died on
September 25 after two months’ detention in Bani Walid.
Pro-government forces and militias besieged the town in
order to find those responsible for the death of “the hero of a new Libya,” as
Shaaban was dubbed.
Bani Walid commanders accuse pro-government troops and
militias of “shelling the town with long-range weapons and even targeting
the hospital.”
A local resident currently residing in Italy, but whose
family remains in the town, told RT the current shelling of the town is Misrata
militias’ attempt to “eliminate” it. He claims that initially the
government called for an end to the violence, but later came up with a call to “clean Bani Walid.”
The UN Security Council has also discussed a possible
meeting with envoy to Libya Tarek Mitri, Churkin said. But it remains unclear
when he will be able to speak, even via video link.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Security Council also postponed
the adoption of another two draft statements proposed by Russia. The first
condemned a terrorist attack in Damascus on October 21 which caused numerous
civilian deaths and injuries. The second called on both the government and the
rebels to agree to a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha, to
allow the people to observe it in peace and security. Eid Al Adha starts on
October 25 and lasts for three days.
Russia’s call for a ceasefire coincides with similar
efforts by international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to persuade Syrians to
agree to a ceasefire during the holiday.
Brahimi left Syria on Tuesday, after finishing a four-day
visit aimed at getting support for his proposal for an end to violence there.
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