MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's foreign minister says Libya needs a new, democratic regime but the Libyans must form it themselves.
Sergey Lavrov warned the West Wednesday against supplying weapons to opponents of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and called for a quick end to hostilities.
Lavrov also said Russia shares concerns that some of Gadhafi’s opponents could be part of al-Qaida and that the instability could spread from Libya to other regions.
Russia, which abstained in the United Nations vote that sanctioned the military operation, has been voicing concern about civilian casualties and excessive use of force since the operation began.
Lavrov said Libya should have a different regime and "it’s clear that it should be a democratic regime," but added that Libyan factions must establish it without outside interference.
