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Gaddafi is in Libya, Libyan energy minister to arrive in Moscow

Mikhail Margelov, the head of the Federation Council Committee for international affairs and Russian president’s special envoy for cooperation with Africa

UNITED NATIONS, September 22 (Itar-Tass) — Mikhail Margelov, the head of the Federation Council Committee for international affairs and Russian president’s special envoy for cooperation with Africa, told Itar-Tass on Thursday that he had no doubt that Muammar Gaddafi was staying in Libya.

“Gaddafi is in the territory of Libya. I don’t have even the slightest doubt about that. I know this from all unofficial Saharan sources because news spread fast among the nomads...,” Margelov went on to say.

“It seems that he’s going to fight up to the last ditch because he’s never taken any legal or illegal attempts to flee Libya,” Margelov emphasized.

“If he’s made some suicidal decisions, then it means that the military side of the conflict is still not over: Gaddafi and his men are fighting like animals driven into a corner,” Margelov added.

Margelov is attending the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly as a member of the Russian delegation.

Russia’s special envoy for cooperation with Africa said that the Libyan minister of energy and natural resources was expected to arrive in Moscow in September. He expressed cautious optimism with regards to Russian-Libyan cooperation.

“I don’t see any political grounds for the Interim Transitional National Council to strip Russian companies of their contracts,” Margelov stressed.

“We are going to have a detailed discussion on the future of Russian contracts with the Libyans. We are waiting for a visit of the Libyan minister of energy and natural resources to Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry is trying to set dates for the visit. We’ve reached political agreement. The visit will most likely take place this month,” Margelov explained.