We're Africans, Russia's mediation not needed: Libya

Tripoli, May 28: The Libyan government has rejected Russia's mediation offer and G8 Summit's call for Colonel Gaddafi to step down from power. Libyan government officials said that the crisis would be resolved through the African Union.

Libya's deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaaim, said that the country won't accept any mediation which marginalises the peace plan of the African Union. He told that G8 is merely an "economic summit," which Libya is "not concerned by its decisions."

"We are an African country. we won't accept any mediation which marginalises the peace plan of the African Union," Khaled Kaaim said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who earlier criticised NATO's involvement in Libya, agreed to mediate Gaddafi's exit, saying the Libyan leader had "forfeited legitimacy" to rule. While speaking to reporters at G8 summit in France on Friday, May 27, Dmitry Medvedev asked Gaddafi to leave the power.

"If Gaddafi makes this decision, which will be beneficial for the country and the people of Libya, then it will be possible to discuss the form of his departure, what country may accept him and on what terms, and what he may keep and what he must lose," Medvedev told reporters.

The Leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States, who participated in G8, asked Gaddafi to step down as the Libyan government has failed to fulfill their responsibility to protect the Libyan population and have lost all legitimacy.

Meanwhile, NATO forces continued its air strike on Libya's capital, Tripoli, for the fifth night in a row. Libyan media reported that several explosions were heard in different parts of the capital. The overnight NATO raids caused human and material damage.

Media reported that heavy fighting is happening in Misrata, the third largest city in Libya which is now controlled by rebel troops who oppose Colonel Gaddafi. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that nearly 12 people were killed and more than 70 wounded in Misrata in a day.

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