MOSCOW. May 19 (Interfax) - Sixty-five percent of Russians are neutral in the Libyan conflict, Levada Center said in comment on a poll held in 45 Russian regions on April 15-18.
The indicator grew by 13% since March, the sociologists said.
The number of Russians supporting the Libyan opposition dropped from 23% in March to 17% in April.
Sixty-two percent of the respondents called wrong the UN Security Council resolution on Libya and said that "it was an act of aggression against the sovereign country." Some 46% said they were indignant at NATO air strikes on Libyan military sites.
Fifty-one percent of the respondents denied to support to all the Libyan stabilization measures discussed in March. They said that foreign states must not interfere in Libyan internal affairs.
As for methods that may be used for overthrowing dictators and promoting democracy, 35% of the respondents said they favored "an economic blockade." Eleven percent supported "the sending of troops", and 8% chose "the bombing of military sites."
Eighty percent of the respondents said that the coalition did not try to prevent civilian casualties in air strikes on military sites in Libya, and 8% voiced the opposite opinion.
Twenty percent said that NATO "seeks control over Libyan oil", 11% said the coalition "wishes to broaden Western control over Middle East countries", and 10% presumed the coalition "wishes to display its military might."
The Libyan events worsened the attitude of the Russians to the United States and the European Union. Fifty-four percent said a month ago they liked the United States, and the indicator stood at 60% in January. The rating is 62% for the European Union (69% in January).