U.S. warns Gadaffi: change, or we use force

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 10

U.S. warns Gadaffi: change, or we use force

NZPA-NYT Washington A senior American State Department official has explicitly given a warning for the first time that the Reagan Administration would consider military action against Libya if the non-military sanctions already imposed by Washington failed to achieve results. The official, Mr John Whitehead, the Deputy Secretary of State, said President Reagan “reserved the right” to use military force against Libya if Colonel Muammar Gadaffi “doesn’t change the pattern of his actions.” Mr Whitehead said that until Colonel Gadaffi changed his conduct in support of terrorists, "it seems to me that Americans . cannot tolerate a man living in this world, as part of the world community, and condoning these actions.”

He said he hoped military force would not have to be used.

“I feel optimistic from what I’ve seen that while this man may be pretty crazy, he’s also crazy like a fox, and he will do what he needs to do to keep himself in power.”

The Associated Press reports from Tripoli, the Libyan capital, that Libya’s Foreign Minister, Dr All Tureiki, said yesterday his Government was seeking direct talks with the United States to

resolve the crisis between the two countries.

He said that Libya had invited the Reagan Administration to meet Colonel Gadaffi’s Government to try to prevent the confrontation from worsening. He did not say where such a meeting should take place.

“We are in favour of dialogue with any country, including the United States,” he said. He corrected himself to exclude Israel.

He said he approved of an offer by King Hassan II of Morocco to mediate between Libya and the United States, but did not reply when asked whether Libya would accept arbitration.

He again denied any Libyan role in the terrorist attacks in Rome and Vienna, on December 27, and said "we disapprove of such acts.” He said that Israel had said Libya was not involved. President Reagan ordered sanctions against Libya for what he said was Libya’s direct support for the terrorists responsible. Dr Tureiki described the air exercises of the United States 6th Fleet off the Libyan coast as "a new provocation which proves the aggressive American intentions toward our country.”

If the 6th Fleet crossed the controversial territorial limit claimed by Libya on parallel 32.5 — which theoretically bars

international navigation from the strategic Gulf of Sirte — Dr Tureiki said: “it would create a very dangerous situation for which the United States would bear the full responsibility.” As far as he knew, the 6th Fleet "has not crossed the line and I hope they will not do so.”

The United States, together with all other Western Powers, has refused to recognise Colonel Gadaffi’s exclusive claim to the Gulf. The Americans are holding a week of naval air exercises in the area, raising the possibility of an armed confrontation between Libyan and Amerian aircraft.

In Tripoli, Colonel Gadaffi drew wild applause from a crowd of Libyans and East Europeans as he denounced President Reagan as “that filthy Reagan, maddened with power and nuclear weapons.” Addressing a capacity crowd of 3000 in Tripoli’s People’s Hall, Colonel Gadaffi, his voice at times rising to a scream, pledged to strike back at

the United States, which, he said, was trying to take away Libya’s freedom as it had tried in Vietnam, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Nicaragua.

The United States Department of State yesterday warned all Americans in Libya, including American women married to Libyans, that they could face criminal penalties for buying groceries in violation of President Reagan’s sanctions order.

The executive order called on all Americans living or working in Libya to leave the country by February 1.

Some 1500 Americans are employed in Libya’s oil Industry, and at least 200 American women live there as the wives of Libyan citizens. The State Department note said these women, and other Americans wishing to remain in Libya beyond the deadline for "humanitarian reasons,” must obtain special authorisation from the department. Dr Tureiki assured Americans in Libya that they would be welcome to remain if they chose to ignore the executive order.