MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax) - France did not ask Russia to broker the talks between the West and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, but is only requesting assistance in persuading Gaddafi to quit, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.
"Making Russia a mediator is not an issue. We must only persuade the man to quit. And we must discuss the terms of his exit, and to what country he will go," Sarkozy said at a press conference in Paris, broadcast live by Russia-24 television.
"We count on [President Dmitry Medvedev's] power of conviction on Russia's behalf," Sarkozy said.
"Naturally, we need Mr. Medvedev's assistance," he said.