Medvedev and Putin clash over Libya

Libya became an arena for battle within Russia’s ruling ‘tandem’ on 21 march 2011 after comments by the Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, likening western air strikes on the country to “crusades” were immediately criticised by the president, Dmitry Medvedev.

Speaking at a ballistic missile factory in southern Russia, Mr Putin said the UN Security Council supporting intervention by the US, UK and France reminded him of a ‘medieval call for crusades’. The resolution was ‘defective and erroneous’, he added.

ESO: Background information: UK and France to spearhead campaign http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-and-france-to-spearhead-campaign/

ESO: Background information: Europe, learn to live with the dithering http://www.europeansources.info/record/europe-learn-to-live-with-the-dithering/

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