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Russian envoy arrives in Libya to meet govt

by Reuters
Thursday, 16 June 2011 08:40 GMT

* Envoy plans to meet prime minister, foreign minister

* Says talks will not be easy

(Updates with arrival in Tripoli)

By Steve Gutterman

MOSCOW, June 16 (Reuters) - An envoy leading Moscow's efforts to help end the war in Libya arrived in Tripoli on Thursday for talks with Muammar Gaddafi's government.

Mikhail Margelov, President Dmitry Medvedev's special representative for Africa, plans to meet Libya's prime minister, foreign minister and other cabinet members, his spokeswoman Varvara Paal said.

"Clearly the talks in Tripoli will not be easy," the Interfax news agency quoted Margelov as saying before he left.

Last week, when he was awaiting a NATO transport corridor to enable him to make the trip, Margelov told reporters that Medvedev had not instructed him to meet Gaddafi. But he said before departing that he was "ready for any meetings".

Margelov, who met Libyan rebel leaders in Benghazi this month, said he believed they could agree to let Gaddafi remain in Libya if he gave up power and stayed out of politics, Interfax reported.

"In the Arab world there is a tradition of forgiveness and conciliation, and many formerly odious leaders of regimes in the region continue to live in their countries as private individuals despite having been overthrown," he was quoted as saying.

Gaddafi has said he would rather die than leave Libya.

Aided by Western air strikes, Libyan rebels fighting to end Gaddafi's 41-year rule have pushed deeper into government-held territory in western Libya, but remained a considerable way from his main stronghold in Tripoli.

Russia supported an initial U.N. Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on Gaddafi, and Medvedev issued a decree barring him from Russia.

Russia then abstained in the March vote on a second resolution that authorised military intervention, and has accused the NATO-led coalition conducting air strikes of going beyond its mandate to protect civilians.

At the G8 summit last month, Medvedev joined Western partners in urging Gaddafi to step down, offered to help mediate and said Margelov would be point man for those efforts.

Russia's actions have jeopardised its standing with Gaddafi's government as well as billions of dollars in arms, energy and transport deals. Analysts say its peacemaking efforts are driven in part by the desire for influence in the future. (Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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