Amr Moussa proposes mediation between Lebanon, Libya; as Libya seeks a fresh start from the past
Lebanon-Libya, Politics, 9/5/2003

The secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa announced yesterday ( that he had proposed mediation between Lebanon and Libya which closed its embassy in Beirut and evacuated its diplomats from it.

In statements to press, Moussa said he had contacted the secretary of the Libyan people's general committee for foreign contacts and international cooperation Abdul Rahman Shalqam in order to make mediation in order to normalize relations between the two states because of the crisis resulted from continued disappearance of the Shiite clergy Imam Moussa al-Sadr, 25 years ago in conclusion of his visit to Libya.

Moussa said he wants to organize a meeting between the Libyan and Lebanese foreign ministers on the sidelines of the council of the Arab League foreign ministers which will be held in Cairo on September 9 and 10, hoping that this "problem will be eliminated."

The Lebanese foreign ministry said that Moussa telephoned Lebanon's foreign minister Jean Obeid to propose mediation. The Ministry said that Obeid stressed to Moussa that Lebanon will not "accept less than the full disclosure about the fate of Imam Moussa al-Sader." The Lebanese minister stressed that Libya "should shoulder its responsibility in this matter especially that Imam al-Sadr disappeared on Libyan land, rather than anywhere else." Tripoli refused these accusations and stresses that the Imam and his escorts had left the Libyan territories for Italy.

However, the former Libyan ambassador in Jordan, Aziz Shneib, who fled in July 1983, gave details on the assassination of Imam al-Sader who said he was killed at "orders from (libyan leader) al-Qathafi."

Previous Stories:
  Libya denies severing political relations with Lebanon, criticizes Hassan Nasrullah strongly   (9/4/2003)
  Lebanese FM meets Libya's al-Tureiki; denouncement of US accusations   (4/15/2003)
  Al-Qathafi son conveys a message for Lahoud   (10/8/2002)

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