Russian Libya envoy prepares Tripoli visit

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The special envoy of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday said he was preparing to visit Tripoli to find a solution to the Libya conflict after meeting the opposition in their Benghazi stronghold.

“I am now involved in preparations for a Tripoli trip,” Mikhail Margelov told reporters in Moscow after returning from his trip to rebel-held eastern Libya and Egypt.

Margelov said Medvedev had not ordered him to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and he instead planned to hold talks with the Libyan Prime Minister and foreign minister.

Calling on Gaddafi to step down, Margelov said the Libyan leader needs to take a “responsible, courageous decision about his future.”

He did not give any details on when the trip would take place but said the Russian side was waiting for Nato to arrange a transport corridor so that the visit could go ahead in full security.

Margelov said there was still a “window of opportunity” to find a solution between the two conflicting sides.

Russia has repeatedly said it is ready to help in mediation, saying it is well placed given Moscow still had diplomatic ties with Tripoli and has now established contacts with Benghazi.

However it has expressed fury over the extent of the Nato air campaign against Gaddafi targets, even though Russia abstained on the UN resolution that originally allowed the military action to go ahead.