Russia speaks out against arming Libyan rebels

Russia warned the West on Wednesday against arming the rebels fighting against Muammar Gaddafi's forces and said Libyans must forge their country's political future without interference.

With US President Barack Obama and other Western leaders saying they were not ruling out arming the rebels, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov emphasised Russia's opposition.

"Not long ago the French foreign minister announced that France is ready to discuss weapons supplies to the Libyan opposition with its coalition partners," Lavrov told a news conference after talks with his Austrian counterpart.

"Right away, NATO secretary-general (Anders) Fogh Rasmussen said the Libyan operation is being conducted to protect the population, not to arm it. We fully agree with the NATO secretary-general on this," Lavrov said.

Speaking of Libya's political future, Lavrov said it was obvious the country was "ripe for reforms" but added that "the Libyan sides must agree on what the Libyan state should be."

"It's clear that it will be a different regime, and it's clear that it should be a democratic regime, but Libyans themselves must decide without influence from outside."