Moscow:
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the UN resolution authorising a no fly zone over Libya was "defective and flawed."
"If you look closely at what is written there, then it becomes obvious right away that it allows everyone to use any measures, to undertake any action against a sovereign state," Putin said of the resolution. Russia abstained in the vote.
"It reminds me of a medieval crusade when someone called on others to go somewhere and to liberate something," he added.
But President Dmitry Medvedev disagreed, speaking favourably of the military operation and saying Moscow could act as a mediator in any peace talks.
Medvedev rebuked the Prime Minister over his choice of words.
"I think everyone should be extremely accurate in their assessments and under no circumstances one should use the wording that in fact leads to the clash of civilisations, something like 'crusades' and so on," he said at his residence outside Moscow in a televised address.
Medvedev stressed that Russia did not use its right as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to veto the resolution.
Russia has not cut its ties with Muammar Gaddafi and could become a mediator.
Putin and Medvedev have on occasion appeared to take different approaches to major international or domestic issues, a division that in part reflects a split in their main constituencies.
While Putin's tough rhetoric appeals to average Russians, Medvedev's more liberal statements are designed to please the West and Russia's liberal elite.
Putin also said the military actions against Libya prove that Russia is correct in its drive to boost its military.
"If you look closely at what is written there, then it becomes obvious right away that it allows everyone to use any measures, to undertake any action against a sovereign state," Putin said of the resolution. Russia abstained in the vote.
"It reminds me of a medieval crusade when someone called on others to go somewhere and to liberate something," he added.
But President Dmitry Medvedev disagreed, speaking favourably of the military operation and saying Moscow could act as a mediator in any peace talks.
Medvedev rebuked the Prime Minister over his choice of words.
"I think everyone should be extremely accurate in their assessments and under no circumstances one should use the wording that in fact leads to the clash of civilisations, something like 'crusades' and so on," he said at his residence outside Moscow in a televised address.
Medvedev stressed that Russia did not use its right as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to veto the resolution.
Russia has not cut its ties with Muammar Gaddafi and could become a mediator.
Putin and Medvedev have on occasion appeared to take different approaches to major international or domestic issues, a division that in part reflects a split in their main constituencies.
While Putin's tough rhetoric appeals to average Russians, Medvedev's more liberal statements are designed to please the West and Russia's liberal elite.
Putin also said the military actions against Libya prove that Russia is correct in its drive to boost its military.
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