The use of military force against the civilian population in Libya is unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.

"Just as Libya used military force against its own population, [any attempts against civilians] is absolutely unacceptable, Lavrov said.

Lavrov expressed his regrets over Muammar Gaddafi's failure to comply with the UN Security Council's resolution on sanctions against Libya.

The minister also expressed hope that the Libyan events will cause minimal damage to stability in the region.

A military operation against Libya's strongman Gaddafi, who has ruled the country with an iron fist for more than 40 years, began on Saturday, involving the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and other countries.

On Monday, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticized the UN Security Council resolution on Libya for allowing foreign military intervention in a sovereign state.

"The Security Council resolution is flawed, it allows everything and is reminiscent of a medieval call for a crusade," Putin said. "In fact, it allows intervention in a sovereign state."

Libyan television has reported that at least 50 civilians have been killed and over 150 wounded in the UN strikes and that many health and education facilities have been destroyed.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon was attacked by protesters angry over the military intervention as he left a meeting of the Arab League in Cairo earlier on Monday.

CAIRO, March 21 (RIA Novosti)