No ground operation without UN approval: Russia

MOSCOW: Russia is ready to discuss a potential ground operation in Libya, but only within the context of the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday. "I go on the principle that the ground operation has not been authorised by the UN Security Council. If someone wants to call for such a mandate, then be my guest, come to the UN Security Council and we'll discuss it," Lavrov said in an interview on the TVTs Russian television channel. "We are receiving information, according to which, such projects are being drawn up within Nato and the EU," he said. Russia, which has a veto in the Security Council, abstained in the March 17 vote Libya no-fly zone resolution. It has accused the West several times of violating the spirit of the resolution.—AFP