Russia joins hand with Western powers seeking Gaddafi's departure

As NATO air-strikes hit Tripoli for the fifth straight night and Russia teaming up with Western powers in demanding his exit, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is feeling the heat of tightened military and diplomatic pressure, Reuters reported.

NATO bombed several sites in the capital on Friday night, causing human and material damage near Mizda, to the south. Libyan state television and Arab news channel Al Arabiya reported.

Meanwhile, Russia, which previously condemned the 10-week bombing of Libya, joined hands with Western leaders on Friday pushing for Gaddafi's departure. This change of tone from Moscow has turned out to be a vital boost to NATO powers seeking to end his 41-year rule.

There are signs that the momentum against Gaddafi is really building. So it is right that we are ratcheting up the military, the economic and the political pressure, British Prime Minister David Cameron said at a Group of Eight summit in France, Reuters reported.

The world community does not see him as the leader of Libya, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told reporters at the summit. Medvedev said he was sending an envoy to Libya to begin talks. However, he didn't present any plan to remove Gaddafi from power.