PUTIN: WEST PLAYED SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE ROLE IN LIBYA'S DESTRUCTION

MOSCOW, OCTOBER 29 /SRNA - RIA Novosti/ - The West played a significant negative role in the destruction of the Libyan state, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"I think it is obvious to everyone that Western countries, unfortunately, played a significant negative role in the destruction of the Libyan state. I do not wish to comment here on the internal political processes, which were complex in their own right, but Western intervention nonetheless played its part and led to the collapse of the Libyan state. To me, this is an obvious fact," Putin said during a plenary session of the Russia-Africa summit.

Putin said that Russia will do everything to restore Libyan statehood.

"Naturally, it is the Libyans themselves, and only them, who must make the final decision on a settlement and the restoration of their statehood," Putin said.