Putin accuses: Nato is trying to kill Gaddafi

Posted by Fry Lawrence On Tuesday, April 26th 2011 in Politics

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accuses NATO of using the air strikes in Lybia as a way to kill the Lybian Leader Muammar Gaddafi.

NATO bombs hit a building in Gaddafi’s official residence in Tripoli on Monday. The Lybian gouvernament named the attack an assassination attacks; NATO says otherwise and denies trying to kill the Lybian leader.

During a visit in Denmark Prime Minister Putin asked: "There was talk about a no-fly zone. OK. But where's the no-fly zone if every night they're bombing palaces where Gaddafi lives?" He also added: "They say, 'No, we don't want to destroy him.' Then why bomb the palaces? Is that how they drive out the mice?"

Lt Gen Charles Bouchard, the commander of NATO's operation in mentioned their aim was indeed the presidential complex, but not the assassination of the president. They wished to destroy an army command center located in the same place in Tripoli.

Lt Gen Bouchard explains the complex is "a military compound in which there are various houses and residences ... and various military command and control nodes throughout".

However, Prime Minister Putin accuses the nations taking part in the Nato operation of straying from the UN mandate to enforce a no-fly zone and protect civilians.

Moreover, Minister Putin adds: "Now several officials are saying, 'Yes, we're trying to destroy Gaddafi.' But who allowed you to do this? What, there was a trial? Who gave themselves the right to sentence someone to death, regardless what kind of person he is?" However he fails to mentions which officials said these words.

Minister Putin considered the authorization of the military operation „a call to the crusades”, a call which Russia did not answer. He also points to the large oil reserves present in Lybia and asks: "It begs the question: is this the real source of interest of those who are brandishing their weapons now?"