Russia, Libya discussed Qadhafi's exit: Report

MOSCOW: Top Russian and Libyan diplomats discussed at a meeting in Moscow this week the exit of Moamer Qadhafi, the Interfax news agency quoted a Russian foreign ministry source as saying on Friday.

"The topic of Moamer Qadhafi's departure from power was discussed at this meeting and discussed in fairly concrete terms, including in the light of contacts that took place between Tripoli's representatives and Americans and the French," the source was quoted as saying.

Foreign Minister Abdelati Al-Obeidi, the highest-ranking Qadhafi official to visit Moscow since the conflict with the rebels erupted, held one hour of talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday.

Al-Obeidi, briefly speaking to reporters after his meeting with Lavrov, said the issue of Qadhafi's exit was not on the agenda.

"The question of Qadhafi's departure is not up for negotiation," he said, giving no impression that any breakthrough had been reached in his talks with Lavrov

"Right now we are discussing the initiative of the African Union, which focuses on ending the war and bloodshed," he said.

There had been speculation his visit was aimed at thrashing out a plan that would allow Qadhafi to quit the country and ease the path towards finding a solution with the Benghazi-based rebels who control the east of the country.

The meeting came days after US envoys held a rare meeting with representatives of Qadhafi's regime, urging the Libyan strongman to cede power.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011