Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel discuss Libya, Ukraine over phone

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern over the escalation of hostilities in Libya and examined problems of the intra-Ukrainian conflict settlement in a phone conversation, the Kremlin has said. "The leaders expressed concern over the escalation of hostilities in Libya. The inevitability of an early ceasefire and the launch of intra-Libyan negotiations under UN auspices were emphasized," it said in a statement on Tuesday, reported Xinhua news agency. The Russian side gave a positive assessment of Egypt's mediation efforts to peacefully settle the Libyan crisis, following on from the decisions of the international conference on Libya held in Berlin on January 19, it added. (IANS)