Libya wants Arab counter-measures

Press, 11 January 1986, Page 8

Libya wants Arab counter-measures

NZPA-Reuter Fez Libya, boosted by a strongly-worded statement by Islamic foreign ministers condemning the United States, is now trying to persuade fellow Arab States to adopt counter-measures against Washington. The 46-member Islamic Conference Organisation yesterday issued a declaration condemning the United States economic boycott of Libya, asking Washington to rescind the measures and calling on member States to take appropriate action to counter them.

The Libyan Foreign Minister, Ali Abdul-Salam AlTureiki, who has a high profile at the meeting, said earlier this week that the least Islamic nations could do was to boycott American goods. Yesterday he indirectly invited them to withdraw their investments from the United States, saying that all countries having investments there had been warned and had seen what the United States meant by a free economy. After the Islamic foreign ministers passed their resolution condemning the United States,the Libyan Foreign Minister said that concrete steps were now necessary.

The Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, declaring that the United States jeopardised Mediterranean security by acting as “a stinking, rotten crusader,” yesterday pledged renewed efforts to

rid the area of foreign military elements. He also said he thought the economic sanctions would have no effect on his North African nation. The United States and Israeli Governments have accused Libya of supporting a Palestinian group they believe attacked airports in Rome and Vienna. Nineteen people, including five Americans, two Israelis and four guerrillas, died. In Washington, the American Secretary of State, Mr George Shultz, said the United States had reached the limit on economic measures it could take against Libya and acknowledged that they were unlikely to have a decisive effect

He that in spite of European refusal to go along with the economic boycott he believed “others will gradually come around to our viewpoint.” He said that the Deputy Secretary of State, Mr John Whitehead, would go to Europe next week, “on a mission of explaining our point of view and being as persuasive as he can.” A rare divergence of opinion has emerged between West Germany and the United States over President Reagan’s economic sanctions.

Chancellor Helmut Kohl, one of Washington’s closest allies, is refusing to implement economic measures against Tripoli. It is the first time that Bonn has openly differed with Wash-

ington over a foreign policy question since Dr Kohl become Chancellor in October, 1982.

Yesterday Mr Shultz refused repeatedly to discuss whether the United States might turn to military measures against Libya. He said Washington would take the actions necessary to bring terrorism to an end.

Colonel Gadaffi said; he believed the United: States was still considering a military strike against his country. ■ ey

In Dublin a newspaper says that a Palestinian leader, Muhammad Abbas, wanted in connection with the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro, has called for a meeting of revolutionary groups to discuss “United States terrorism.”

The “Irish Times” published an interview it said it conducted with Muhammad Abbas at an undisclosed location. The United States has offered a ?U5250,000 ($500,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the Palestinian leader.

The “Irish Times” quoted the Palestinian as saying that the Palestine Liberation Front “has invited international revolutionary parties and forces to hold a secret conference to decide jointly on the best means to combat United States terrorism internationally.”