Gaddafi to discuss hosting Russian base

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi arrived in Russia yesterday for talks expected to focus on purchases of Russian arms and the possible opening of a Russian naval base in Libya to counterbalance US interests in Africa.

It is Col Gaddafi's first visit to Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union and coincides with an improvement in Libya's relations with the United States after years of enmity.

"During these talks the colonel intends to raise the issue of opening a base for Russia's navy in the Libyan port of Benghazi," reported Russian business daily Kommersant, quoting a source involved in preparing Col Gaddafi's visit.

The Kremlin and Russian naval officials could not be reached for comment on the report.

"Russia's military presence will become a guarantee of non-aggression from the United States which, despite numerous conciliatory gestures, is not in a hurry to embrace Colonel Gaddafi," Kommersant said. Washington for years considered Col Gaddafi a supporter of terrorism. The United Nations imposed sanctions on Tripoli in 1992 to pressure it to hand over two Libyan suspects in the 1998 bombing of a Pan Am airliner, lifting them in 2003.

In September, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Col Gaddafi in Libya, the first such visit in 55 years. The trip was intended to end decades of enmity, five years after Libya gave up its programme of weapons of mass destruction.

After a decade of strong economic growth, Russia is keen to project its power. Russian warships led by a nuclear-powered missile cruiser docked in Libya this month on their way to Venezuela to take part in joint naval exercises.

Libya has also hosted a Russian frigate sent to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

Sevastopol, on Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, is Russia's only functioning naval base abroad.

Russian media have reported that Col Gaddafi may be seeking to buy more than $2 billion of Russian arms and that Moscow may be looking for energy deals.