Moscow - Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi arrived in Moscow on Friday for a three-day visit the Kremlin hopes will lead to weapons purchases by the North African country.

Gaddafi is due to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his stay. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he had "no doubt" the visit would be a success.

Moscow has made a push to renew Soviet-era relations with Libya since former president Vladimir Putin traveled to Tripoli in April.

A contract of more than 2 billion dollars for the delivery of Russian SU-30 fighter jets, T-90 battle tanks and other weapons to Libya is likely to be signed in meetings with Gaddafi, business daily Vedemosti said, citing a source at Russia's state technology agency.

Advanced Russian Tor-M2E surface-to-air missile systems may be part of the weapons deal, the paper said.

Another business daily, Kommersant, said that Libya was prepared to grant Russia's request to establish a naval base for its fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.

Moscow in April agreed to write off Tripoli's 4.6 billion dollar debt in exchange for various business contracts in Libya, including road construction, housing and other infrastructure projects.

Russia's railway monopoly RZD has been in negotiations to seal a 2.3-billion-dollars deal to build a 554-kilometre rail link in the country.

Russian energy giant Gazprom also signed a provisional agreement with Libya's National Oil Corporation on joint ventures.

Libya is considered the continent's fourth largest country in estimated gas reserves, but remains relatively untapped. (dpa)