Libyan mission told to leave Britain

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 1

Libyan mission told to leave Britain

NZPA-Reuter London Britain has broken off diplomatic relations with Libya over the murder of a young policewoman and has ordered all Libyans in the London Embassy to leave the country within a week. The decision to sever relations came after a six-day police siege of the embassy, called the Libyan People’s Bureau, which failed to break a stalemate over the diplomatic status of the mission and its occupants. The murder of Constable Yvonne Fletcher in a burst of machine-gun fire during a demonstration by opponents of Libyan leader, Colonel Gadaffi, caused outrage in Britain and the severing of relations had strong backing from politicians, public and press. British officials say the gunfire came from the embassy but the Libyans have denied this. Several days of negotiations in Tripoli between the British Ambassador, Mr Oliver Miles, and Libyan authorities aimed at identifying the killer and ending the siege proved fruitless and the British Government’s patience had been wearing thin. British diplomats in Tripoli will be withdrawn by the

same date, April 29. Libya expressed “surprise and indignation” yesterday at the severing of ties but said it would continue to provide protection for the estimated 8000 Britons living there. The statement, in the name of the “People’s Committee for the Foreign Liaison Bureau,” blamed Britain for the policewoman’s death by providing protection for demonstrators gathered outside the Libyan mission. It said the committee itself was not empowered to break relations with Britain but the whole matter would be brought before Libya’s People’s Congress, to do “whatever they consider fit concerning British-Libyan relations.” A spokesman at the mission contacted by telephone told Reuters: “We will go on the last day, on the Sunday, in the afternoon.” The Foreign Minister, Mr Luce, announcing the diplomatic break, said the shooting was “a totally unacceptable and unprecedented breach of British law, international law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”

But all the Libyans in the People’s Bureau, both diplomats and others, would be

guaranteed safe passage out of the country. The Home Secretary, Mr L. Brittan, told a news conference: “Taking account of the need to rid the country of this dangerous presence in that bureau, and bearing in mind the safety of our fellow countrymen in Libya, we have concluded that this is the right thing to do.” Many newspapers and some supporters of the governing Conservative Party expressed anger and frustration at the likely escape of the gunman. A member of Parliament, Mr Eldon Griffiths, said: “One can sympathise with .the position of British Ministers. The safety of our people in Libya is paramount, but none of that can justify an act of murder going untried in a British court.” Armed police continued

to ring the People’s Bureau yesterday and all Libyans leaving the embassy will be searched for weapons. But Mr Brittan said that Libyan diplomatic bags would remain inviolate, in accordance with international practice. He said that after the April 29 deadline both the Libyan mission and anyone remaining there would lose their diplomatic status. “As far as other Libyans in this country are concerned, I shall look carefully at any evidence that their presence is against the national interest and will not hesitate to use my powers of removal if I am satisfied that it is.” Mr Brittan added that any application by Libyans to extend their stay in this country would be “scrutinised with the greatest care.” Further report, page 4