Exercises off Libya

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 10

Exercises off Libya

NZPA-Reuter Washington

The United States and Egypt plan to conduct joint air and sea exercises off Libya this week, reports “The Washington Post,” quoting unidentified United States Government officials.

The joint manoeuvres, code-named “Sea Wind,” were announced by the Egyptian Government last week. It gave no details about the area in which they would be held.

The “Post” said the Egyptian and American forces would not enter the Gulf of Sirte, which Libya claims is its territory but the United States says is international water.

American and Egyptian aircraft, two aircraftcarriers and amphibious forces would participate in the exercise, which would last until the end of the month.

The Soviet newspaper, “Pravda” says the exercise is “openly provocative” and that it is a prelude to a United States attack on Libya. In March, United States Navy aircraft bombed a Libyan missile site and two guided-missile ships — Libya had fired missiles at Navy planes that had crossed what the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, has called the “line of death” at the entrance to the Gulf of Sirte.

In April, the United States bombed Tripoli and Benghazi after accusing Libya of a role in the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque frequented by American servicemen.