Pretoria — President Jacob Zuma is in Russia for a meeting on Libya hosted by the International Contact Group on Libya.

On his working visit the President will participate in the meeting in his capacity as a member of the African Union's Ad hoc High Level Committee on Libya mandated by the African Union Peace and Security Council to engage the opposing parties in Libya in order to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the current conflict.

"President Zuma's participation to the meeting follows the invitation extended to him as the member of African Union Ad hoc High Level Committee on Libya by the Russian Federation," said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

On Thursday President Zuma along with other AU leaders attended a summit that focused on the leadership crises in Libya, Sudan and Somalia, as well as accelerating youth empowerment.

There has been mounting calls for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to leave office. In addition the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Gaddafi.