Russia and China Lead Opposition to Air Assault on Libya

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Opposition to the Western air assault on Libya has come from a variety of quarters with Russia and China expressing regret and the African Union calling for it to end.

Both China and Russia abstained when the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on Thursday which authorized "all necessary means" to protect Libyan civilians and enforce a ceasefire.

Pope Benedict issued a statement on Sunday that urged military and political leaders to consider the safety of Libyan citizens and ensure their access to humanitarian aid.

The AU's panel of five heads of state, after meeting in Nouakchott, Mauritania, called on the international community to show restraint.The panel  had planned to travel to Tripoli, the Libyan capital, on Sunday to meet with Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi. But the trip was canceled.

The African leaders have convened a meeting on Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that includes representatives of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the AU to seek a solution to the Libyan crisis.