They accuse international forces of violating the UN no-fly zone resolution and putting civilian lives at risk. Witnesses claim they could see NATO warplanes just over the ground.
The Russian Foreign Ministry says the regime change remains NATO’s chief goal in Libya, despite the fact that “the alliance was not been granted the authority to do so.” Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich stated that “the Ministry has grave doubts concerning the true political objectives NATO is pursuing in Libya.”
Meanwhile, NATO denies that killing Muammar Gaddafi was the objective of the airstrikes.
On Thursday NATO said it had taken the initiative in the Libyan war and Gaddafi's forces could no longer launch attacks on rebel forces. NATO spokesperson Carmen Romero maintained the alliance mission in Libya was making "steady and tangible progress" almost two months after NATO took command of the operation.
On Friday NATO warplanes bombed eight vessels of Gaddafi's navy.
Meanwhile authorities in Tripoli denied reports that Gaddafi’s wife and daughter had fled to Tunisia and called the American president "delusional" for having suggested that Gaddafi’s departure was inevitable.
In an attempt to negotiate peace, Gaddafi's envoys met with the Russian Foreign Minister in Moscow on May 16. According to Sergey Lavrov, Tripoli is ready to halt fighting, but only if the opposition lays down its arms and NATO stops its air raids.
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