By Manish Chand

"India wants peace and tranquillity to return to Libya. We are in favour of the resumption of the political process," Vivek Katju, secretary (West) in India's external affairs ministry and the top Indian official in charge of Africa, told reporters in Ethiopia.

"India supports the African Union's position on the Libyan situation," Katju said.

The situation in Libya and North Africa figured in discussions between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of 15 African countries who held their second summit here.

India has opposed air strikes by the US and European forces against the government of Col. Muammar Gaddafi, and underlined that "the measures adopted should mitigate and not exacerbate an already difficult situation for the people of Libya".

On May 23, the NATO forces launched massive air strikes targeted at the Libyan capital Tripoli amid the ongoing flux where the rebel forces are said to be gaining in strength.
(Indo-Asian News Service)