Russia: West To Blame For Unrest In North Africa

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov gives news conference on January 23, 2013. (RIA Novosti / Alexey Philippov)

Russia Says West To Blame For Arms Used By Mali Rebels -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday the rebels fighting French and African troops in Mali are the same fighters the West armed in the revolt that ousted Muammar Gaddafi in Libya.

An Islamist alliance of al Qaeda's North African wing AQIM and home-grown Malian groups captured northern Mali last year, armed with weapons seized from Libya after the fall of Gaddafi.


Russia backed a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing military intervention in Mali but is still bristling that its abstention from a U.N. vote over Libya in 2011 allowed NATO air strikes to help the rebels trying to topple the veteran leader.

Russian officials accused the United States and its allies of overstepping their mandate.

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My Comment: I remember during the height of the Libyan revolution listening to Russian warnings on what would happen if Gaddafi was overthrown .... and while I was critical of the Russian position, I did agree with them on why we should be concerned over the impact that the more radical militias may have on the region if they should come to power. Not surprisingly .... after the fall of Gaddafi the West disappeared, and the more radical Islamists are now having the freedom to pursue what they want to pursue.

It is in this context that Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov is now saying the same thing but with his eye on Syria. He knows that what is happening in Syria will have consequences throughout the region, and he is warning the West on what could happen. But (like Libya) no one is listening to him .... least of all the West.