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

UNITED NATIONS (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.