Moscow, Dec 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia has criticised UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for defending the NATO operation in Libya and ignoring data on civilian casualties collected by a number of UN member states.

Ban came to the defence of NATO in response to charges that the alliance overstepped its mandate to impose a no-fly zone to protect Libyan civilians and instead openly sided with the rebels, enabling them to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

"UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's statements that the alliance's actions in Libya were conducted in strict accordance with the UN Security Council resolution 1973, directly contradict the facts and are at odds with the estimates of many members of the Security Council and other UN members," said Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich.

He said Ban must "take into account the positions of all the UN members, especially when the issue concerns sensitive events on the global agenda".

Ban's attempt to present "the operation in Libya as a model for future crisis resolution is cynical to say the least", Lukshevich added.

Russia has urged NATO to investigate civilian deaths in Libya from its bombing campaign, saying the alliance's claim that there were no civilian casualties was "untrue".

Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said he has asked NATO to give "a definitive report" to the Security Council summing up its activities in Libya. But he said "unfortunately" the alliance only provided "piecemeal, rather perfunctory reports... (that) were not very informative".