Russia to render humanitarian aid to Libya soon

23.06.2011 EMERCOM aircrafts will deliver humanitarian aid to Libya in the nearest days, reports Russian Foreign Ministry on June 22.

"Russian leadership decided to render immediate humanitarian aid equally to all Libyan people who are in need for that. In particular, it is planned to deliver humanitarian cargo including food products, tents, blankets etc both to western and eastern regions of Libya", said the foreign ministry's release.

Optimal ways of delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid are being currently negotiated with Tripoli authorities and representatives of National Transitional Council, reports the ministry.

Official representative of Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich emphasized that Moscow was anxious about protracted armed conflict in Libya resulted in humanitarian breakdown.

Protest actions started in Libya in mid-Feb; rioters demanded an ouster of national leader Muammar Gaddafi who had been governing the country for over 40 years. Later on, the demonstrations had grown into armed conflict between governmental forces and rebels.

On March 17, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution imposing a no-fly zone over Libya and allowing foreign military intervention. The operation started on March 19 by Great Britain, France, the US, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and Norway.

On March 31 the operation's command was handed over to NATO. The objective of Operation United Protector is arms embargo, no-fly zone, and protection of non-combatants.

Although UN mandate for the operation was to expire on June 27, NATO extended it for 90 days (till late Sept).