Libya calls on Russia to mediate cease-fire

Tripoli, Libya  — Libya is calling on Russia to mediate a cease-fire, a sign that Moammar Gadhafi’s regime may be ready to bring about an end to the months-long war.

In a telephone call, Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmudi asked for help in achieving a cease-fire and starting talks without preconditions, according to a statement posted by late Thursday by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The request comes after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was asked by the Group of Eight to mediate a settlement. It was unclear what role, if any, Medvedev would be willing to play.

Russia has been a staunch critic of the NATO-led bombing campaign that began in March. It operates under a U.N. Security Council resolution to protect Libyan civilians by any means necessary as Gadhafi’s forces battle rebels calling for an end to his 42 years of rule.

It is unclear what role, if any, Russia will take. The country, a permanent member of the Security Council, abstained during the U.N. vote.

During the conversation with al-Mahmudi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Libya would have to comply with Security Council resolutions and stop any action that would cause harm to civilians, the statement said.

Medvedev was among eight world leaders attending the G8 summit in Deauville, France.

At the summit, U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said they remain committed to the Libya campaign.

“We agreed that we have made progress on our Libya campaign, but that meeting the U.N. mandate of civilian protection cannot be accomplished when Gadhafi remains in Libya directing his forces in acts of aggression against the Libyan people,” Obama said after a meeting of the two leaders. “And we are joined in resolve to finish the job.”

And a spokesman for Libya’s transition government said Gadhafi must leave before the opposition could consider negotiations or a cease-fire.

NATO member Spain said Thursday that Libya had sent a message to Madrid and other European capitals, listing “a series of proposals that could lead to a cease-fire,” but the allies have so far rebuffed earlier Libyan proposals for an end to the fighting.

Meanwhile, NATO warplanes bombed the Libyan capital late Thursday, with a tribal site near central Tripoli the target of the latest attacks.

Five explosions, most large enough to shake buildings some distance away, struck Tripoli shortly before midnight. The Libyan official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the target was the tribal compound at Bab Al-Azizya, about 2 kilometers (1.3 miles) from the center of Tripoli.

The site is a former military base now used to welcome tribal visitors to Tripoli, offering them guest houses during their stay. It has been used as a center for people volunteering to support Libyan authorities since the revolt against longtime strongman Gadhafi erupted in February.