US and Russia clash over Western bombing raids

RUSSIA and the US clashed over Western bombing raids in Libya, with the US defence chief saying Moscow had accepted Muammar Gaddafi’s “lies” about civilian casualties.

In a visit dominated by tensions over the Libya conflict, Robert Gates defended the air strikes against Gaddafi’s regime even as he predicted the bombing would be scaled back within days once anti-aircraft systems are taken out.

As Gates sat grim-faced next to him, Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov called for an immediate ceasefire in Libya and charged coalition forces with killing civilians in their bombing campaign.