G8 summit backs Arab Spring, Japan recovery
DEAUVILLE, France — The world's great industrial powers met Thursday at a G8 summit dominated by revolt in the Arab world, backing the popular struggle for democracy and seeking a way…
DEAUVILLE, France — The world's great industrial powers met Thursday at a G8 summit dominated by revolt in the Arab world, backing the popular struggle for democracy and seeking a way out of the Libyan war.Russia said it had been contacted by Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi's prime minister seeking to negotiate a deal, and had been asked by Western G8 partners to pursue contacts with the regime to seek to resolve the conflict.Western officials said Moscow had not been formally asked to mediate, but a US official said President Barack Obama had discussed maintaining contacts with Tripoli with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.News of Moscow's diplomatic gambit came after President Nicolas Sarkozy of France welcomed the G8 chiefs to the windswept Normandy resort of Deauville for two days of talks on the world's great diplomatic and economic challenges.According to a draft version of their planned declaration, seen by AFP, the presidents and prime ministers were to call for an end to violent repression in Libya and Syria and for immediate Israel-Palestinian peace talks.They were expected to agree a statement backing a limited government role in policing the Internet and boosting global nuclear safety standards in the wake of Japan's devastating tsunami-triggered nuclear tragedy.Sarkozy, whose supermodel wife Carla Bruni provided the day's other talking point by appearing in a loose dress that showed off her hitherto unconfirmed pregnancy, said the G8 would discuss imposing tougher sanctions on Syria.The leaders, including Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron, also took time out from summit business to congratulate Serbia on the capture of Europe's most wanted war crimes suspect, Ratko Mladic."Requests have been voiced that Russia take upon itself the role of a mediator in settling the situation in Libya," Medvedev's spokeswoman Natalia Timakova told reporters.Timakova said that the requests were made during bilateral talks between Medvedev and Sarkozy and Cameron.A US official said Obama had
last modification 2011-05-26 23:45:46
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