The lower house of the Russian parliament on Wednesday called for a ceasefire and an end to violence against civilians in Libya.
The State Duma passed a resolution, entitled “Re: the Situation in Libya,” by a 350:32 vote with no abstentions.
The house also expressed concern over “the scale and form of the use of force against Libya” and urged the parliaments of the Western-led coalition force to help bring about an immediate ceasefire and stop deaths and suffering among civilians.
The UN Security Council on Thursday imposed a no-fly zone over Libya allowing “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from Muammar Gaddafi’s attacks on rebel-held towns. Russia and four other countries abstained from the vote.
Operation Odyssey Dawn entered its fourth night of airstrikes on Libyan air defenses on Tuesday. Libyan state television has reported that at least 60 civilians have been killed and over 150 wounded.
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Tuesday NATO would soon launch an operation to enforce an arms embargo against Libya.
The decision was made by NATO ambassadors and aims to “stop the intolerable violence against Libyan civilians.”
MOSCOW, March 23 (RIA Novosti)