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Russia agrees to mediate Gaddafi exit
[Al Jazeera] Russia has agreed to mediate the exit of Muammar Qadaffy, Libya's leader, after leaders at the Group of Eight (G8) meeting in La Belle France called on Russia to take the role.

Sergei Ryabkov, the Russian deputy foreign minister, told news hounds on Friday that "Qadaffy has forfeited legitimacy" and that Russia is ready "to help him go".

Soon after, Mikhail Margelov, Moscow's special representative on Africa told news hounds that his country is ready to negotiate Qadaffy's departure.

Margelov explained that Russia is in contact with Qadaffy's entourage, and that they are willing to negotiate Libyan leader's fate.

"We shouldn't talk to Qadaffy himself but with members of his cabinet, possibly with his sons. And we are making such contacts, so there is a hope for a political resolution," Margelov told news hounds at the G8 summit in northern La Belle France.

When asked to specify who Russia's main partner would be in such talks, he said, "Can you imagine, if I give you this person's name and his head were to be cut off the next day? But yes, we do have people in Qadaffy's camp."
Posted by: Fred 2011-05-28
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=323453