Gadaffi surprised envoys

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 6

Gadaffi surprised envoys

NZPA-Reuter Tripoli, Libya Diplomats are baffled why the Libyan leader, Colonal Muammar Gadaffi, with the United States 6th Fleet on his doorstep, should risk a confrontation with France over Chad.

France accused Libya of renewing hostilities last week in neighbouring Chad, a former French colony, and bombing the airport of the capital, N'djamena.

“We didn’t think he (Colonal Gadaffi) would do It just now," said one Tripoli-based diplomat

At the time two American aircraft carriers were spearheading exercises by the 6th Fleet near the disputed Gulf of Sirte and Libya was holding air defence manoeuvres.

Diplomats feared that that might lead to a clash — but there was rio rerun of 1981 when United States /Navy jets downed two Libyan planes. Because of the flare-up

in Chad, France sent a deterrent force of planes and men to protect N’djamena airport. France and Libya had agreed on a mutual pullout from Chad in 1984. But France said Colonal Gadaffi had sent troops back to northern Chad in support of rebels led by the former President, Goukouni Oueddei.

Diplomats estimate that Libya has some 5000 troops in Chad. Libya denied bombing N’djamena, saying the Soviet-built Tupolev 22 supersonic aircraft that made the raid belonged to Libyan-backed rebels of G.U.N.T. (Transitional Government of National Unity). Diplomats offer three theories for Colonal Gadaffi’s stirring up Chad:

• Discord in . the Libyan Armed Forces, especially among troops stationed in northern Chad. "Conditions in Chad are very difficult,” said one diplomat. ‘‘Morale was too low among Me soldiers because 8»y

were too idle.” Diplomats say Colonal Gadaffi, a junior officer who seized power in a coup in 1969, has been distrustful of the Army since an attack on his headquarters in March, 1984. O Differences surfacing within G.U.N.T. meant he had to move fast. G.U.N.T. has been shaken by defections in recent months and was apparently eager to open negotiations with Hissene Habre, the Chadian President . ■ '

“This situation was unfavourable to Gadaffi and he could not afford to let it go on,” said a diplomat • Colonal Gadaffi may have believed, wrongly, that the Government of Francois Mitterrand, preoccupied with Parliamentary elections next month, would not react swiftly. When France promptly announced it was sending a deterrent force, Libya accused Mr Mitterrand of using the Chad issue as an electoral card to

strengthen his hand in the polls. Libya also accused France of taking over the hostile role of the United States. The President of the United States, Mr Ronald Reagan, imposed economic sanctions on Libya but failed to win much support for his campaign to isolate Colonal Gadaffi. Mr Reagan accused Libya of being behind Palestinian guerrillas who killed 20 people in attacks at airports in Rome Vienna on December 27. Five of the dead were Americans.

Colonal Gadaffi, denying the American assertions, skilfully exploited the crisis to rally support from other Arab and African States. But in spite of strong verbal support fom Arab leaders, his relations with most Arab Governments remain shaky.

Neighbouring Tunisia has closed its border since Libya expelled thousands of Tunisian workers last year.} Algeria stood by

Tunisia, and its relations with Libya deteriorated. Egypt’s frontier with Libya remains sealed after a brief border war in 1977. “Politically/ Chad is Gadaffi’s only space for expansion,” said one diplomat "He has put all his eggs in one basket and can’t afford to' let go.” Some rebel leaders who have rallied behind Mr Habre have said many rank-and-file fighters were wary of Libya’s hold on the northern provinces, they asserted had been virtually annexed. G.U.N.T. recently introduced to the international press a newly set-up air force consisting of six light Italian-built SiaiMarchetti trainer-tactical support aircraft with a limited range of action. The Libyan Air Force has a large number of them. The rebels’ military strength north of the sixteenth parallel is estimated by Western Intelligence sources at 8000 men, lacked by a Libyan troopsr-