Russia Urges Probe into Libya Arms Shipment to Militants in Syria
Russia called on the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) to probe reports that massive arms depots stockpiled by former Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi are making their way to foreign-sponsored militants in Syria. - "Russia applied to the UNSC Committee overseeing sanctions against Libya asking to initiate an investigation of the information (about the alleged arms supply to the Syrian opposition from Libya)…," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday, press tv reported. "If this information is correct, it means a severe violation of international embargo imposed on Libya," the statement added. On June 21, the New York Times reported that the evidence collected in Syria together with flight-control data and interviews with militia members, smugglers, militants, analysts and officials in several countries attest to the fact that a great deal of effort, spearheaded and financed by Qatar, is underway to transport arms from Libya to Syrian anti-government gunmen. The report further noted that Qatari C-17 cargo planes have landed at least three times in Libya this year, including flights from Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli on January 15 and February 1 as well as another that departed Benghazi on April 16.