Global Arab Network | Sorry for British policewoman's murder, says Gathafi

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Sorry for British policewoman's murder, says Gathafi

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Monday, 26 October 2009 05:37

Libyan leader Moamer Gathafi apologised for the first time for the killing of a British policewoman shot front of the Libyan embassy in London in 1984.

In an exclusive interview for Sky News, he offered his nation's sympathy for her death.

However, he also said that the killer had not been identified.

Yvonne Fletcher, 25, was shot in the back while policing a peaceful demonstration outside the embassy on April 17, 1984.

"She is not an enemy to us, and we are sorry all the time and (we offer) our sympathy, because she was on duty, she was there to protect the Libyan Embassy," he said.

"This is the problem that should be solved - but who did it? That is the question. It is always like a persistent matter."

Her case has been brought back into the spotlight following the August release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, the Libyan man convicted over the Lockerbie plane bombing over Scotland.

However, he said the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Megrahi was "a matter of concern for the British, Scots (and) Americans".

"We are not really concerned about it," he added.

"We have economic relations, investment relations, British companies, banks and, indeed, investments over there in England," he continued.

"Let me say that economic relations were good even during the time of Lockerbie between our two countries. They were never affected."

The British government strongly denies accusations that it did deals with Tripoli over Megrahi to improve trade relations with Libya.

He went on to say that the Palestinians should have the right to nuclear weapons to counter the threat from Israel, attacking what he called "double standards".

"If the Israelis have the nuclear weapons and nuclear capabilities, then it is the right of the Egyptians, the Syrians, the Saudis to have the same - even the Palestinians should have the same because their counterparts, or their opponents, have nuclear capabilities. Why not?" he asked.

"If we don't want this situation... we'll have to disarm the Israelis (and remove) their nuclear weapons and capabilities."

Col Gaddafi announced Libya was giving up its weapons of mass destruction in 2003, paving the way for better relations with the West.

Global Arab Network

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