Medvedev sends envoy to Libyan rebels

MOSCOW, May 27 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Friday dispatched an envoy to Libya who said his goal is to persuade Col. Moammar Gadhafi to relinquish power.

Mikhail V. Margelov, the special envoy to the Middle East and Africa, said his destination is Benghazi, the de facto capital of the Libyan rebels, The New York Times reported. He said he wants to explore the rebels' vision for Libya, post-Gadhafi, and which countries would be willing to give Gadhafi sanctuary.

"We have preserved our embassy in Tripoli, and have preserved contacts with people in Gadhafi's circle, and we are developing our contacts with the Libyan rebels," Margelov said. "This is why I am going there."

The move came a day after the Group of Eight released a communique from its summit in Deauville, France, calling on Gadhafi to step down. Russia had previously opposed the NATO air war in Libya, but Medvedev backed the G8 statement.

Margelov said Russia can play a unique role in North Africa and the Middle East because it has not used military force against any of the governments there.