Medvedev says NATO abused UN mandate in Libya

MOSCOW, September 9 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia is dissatisfied with the
implementation of the UN resolution on Libya as NATO has abused the
mandate of the international community in the country, President Dmitry
Medvedev said in an interview with Euronews TV channel aired on Friday.
"We are not satisfied with the implementation of Resolution 1973"
which envisaged a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent civilian casualties,
the president said.
"It is a past affair as the situation in Libya has radically changed.
Nevertheless we believe the mandate of the Resolution 1973 on Libya was
exceeded," he said.
Russia abstained during the vote on the resolution in the Security
Council and warned against exceeding the no-fly zone mandate.
However NATO actually sided with insurgents against Muammar Gaddafi
triggering a tough reaction from Moscow. "They turned a good resolution
into a piece of paper to cover senseless military operation. We insist
that resolutions shall be interpreted literally rather than in an expanded
manner," Medvedev said in an interview.