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Russia to propose resolution to bar terrorists from Libyan missiles

Within the next few days Russia intends to submit to the UN Security Council a draft resolution

UNITED NATIONS, October 22 (Itar-Tass) —— Within the next few days Russia intends to submit to the UN Security Council a draft resolution aimed at preventing terrorists from laying hands on man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) in Libya, Russia’s permanent representative Vitaly Churkin said on Friday.

He expressed concern over the fact that "amid the conflict in Libya many weapons were left unattended, arms storages were pillaged and military hardware leaked outside the Libyan territory."

According to the Russian ambassador, the gist of the initiative is to bring this issue into the range of attention of the international community and those counter-terrorism authorities that there exist within the UN system."

"We all need to work in concert to solve this problem," said Churkin.

According to independent experts, the regime of Muammar Qaddafi bought about 20 thousand rockets for MANPADS. The international community is extremely concerned about the possibility these complexes may end up in extremists’ hands. In recent weeks, the regional "black market" prices have slumped, which, according to the Obama Administration, may indicate that there has appeared a large number of MANPADS that were stolen from warehouses in Libya.