US blocks Russia's draft statement in UN on peaceful resolution of Bani Walid violence — RT

25.10.12

US blocks Russia's draft statement in UN on peaceful resolution of Bani Walid violence — RT: The United States has blocked a draft statement, proposed by Russia, on the resolution of violence in the Libyan town of Bani Walid, which has been under siege for weeks. The statement called for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin said the move “can't be serious,” reminding the American delegation of the deadly attack in Benghazi that claimed the lives of four US diplomats in September.

“Blocking a draft statement that called to solve the country’s political problems without violence is very strange,” Churkin said. “This is a case when it is difficult to explain the US delegation’s actions in rational terms.”

The statement drafted by Russia on Bani Walid called on the Libyan authorities “to take urgent steps to resolve the conflict by peaceful means and to preserve the rights of all Libyan citizens.” It also expressed concern about the significant escalation of violence in and around the city of Bani Walid in recent days.

Lawrence Freeman, from news magazine Executive Intelligence Review says the US will block any peaceful solution to the ongoing violence in Libya, because stability in the region is not in its interests.