By IANS,
New Delhi : Amid initiatives to resolve the Libyan crisis, India Friday told Libyan Foreign Minister Abdel Aati Al Obeidi that it wanted fighting to end immediately and a dialogue to end the conflict.
Al Obeidi met Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed and updated him on the latest developments in Libya and the status of various initiatives for resolving the crisis.
Ahamed “reiterated India’s position which calls for immediate cessation of all hostilities in Libya and supports peaceful resolution of the Libyan crisis through dialogue, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the people of Libya”, the external affairs ministry said.
Ahamed conveyed India’s stand that Libya’s unity and territorial integrity had to be maintained.
“He also expressed support for the African Union-High Level Ad-hoc Committee initiatives and the African Union Road Map for the peaceful and consensual resolution of the conflict,” the ministry said.
The visit of the Libyan minister comes amid intensified efforts to find a peaceful solution to end the conflict.
Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi has ruled out talks with rebels who are calling for an end to his 41-year rule, frustrating efforts by the Western powers for a negotiated solution to the crisis.
The NATO has escalated air strikes amid reports that the US is mulling sending more Predator drones and other surveillance planes to bolster the air war in Libya. The NATO conducted 124 air sorties Thursday.