AFP - NATO oversteps in Libya on UN mandate, said Friday the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for a political settlement of the Libyan crisis.
"Today we are witnessing the actions in a number of cases go beyond the mandate of the Security Council of the United Nations" as set out in resolution 1973, saidLavrov after meeting with his counterparts from the Atlantic Alliance in Berlin.
"We believe it is important to move urgently to the political phase and move towards a political and diplomatic settlement" of the Libyan crisis, "he added.
"In this context, Russia supports the initiative of the African Union" said the Russian minister, condemning "excessive use of military force that would lead to further losses among civilians."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had already high Thursday against the NATO operations in Libya in these terms: "What we as a result. We have essentially a military operation.The resolution says nothing about that. "
Shortly before, the secretary general of the Alliance Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in reporting the meeting of NATO-Russia Council that "Russia (was) clear that the NATO operation was legitimate."
He even described as "very, very positive" exchange of views "between Lavrov and his 28 counterparts in the Atlantic Alliance.
Operation Protector unified NATO "takes place in accordance with resolution 1973 of the Security Council," he said, adding: "Let me emphasize that in the conduct of the operation we will not beyond the text and the spirit of EVs resolution.
"Quite the opposite," Mr. launchedRasmussen, "we are implementing in strict conformity with the letter and spirit" of the resolution.
The text voted on March 17 authorizes "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.
NATO took over the reins March 31 military operations launched March 19 by an international coalition led by the United States, France and the United Kingdom, which had relied on the resolution to bomb Gaddafi's troops since they represented a danger to the civilian population.
