Libya denies severing political relations with Lebanon, criticizes Hassan Nasrullah strongly

Libya has denied to have cut its political relations with Lebanon while it confirmed its decision to close its embassy in Beirut.

The assistant secretary general for media and cultural affairs Hassouna al-Shawi announced that his country decided to close its embassy in Beirut, rather than severing its political relations with Lebanon.

He said that the Libyan decision came following the inability of the official Lebanese foundations to prevent harm made by certain Lebanese officials to Libya.

A Lebanese official source announced that Libya informed Lebanon yesterday of cutting diplomatic relations because of criticism addressed to Tripoli over the disappearance of a Shiite leader 25 years ago.

The Libyan charge de affairs in Beirut Hussein al-Sharif said that relations were severed with Lebanon because of what he called the fierce media campaign against them and the person of Libyan leader.

Al-Sharif accused both the speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri and the secretary general of the Hizbullah Party Sheikh Hassan Nasrullah and certain articles writers in the press of damaging his country.

He indicated that the Lebanese government, the president, the foreign ministry and various Lebanese establishments were notified about the decision and that the Libyan mission will leave within hours.

The Libyan foreign ministry launched a strong criticism against the secretary general of the Lebanese Hizbullah Party Hassan Nasrullah who called recently on al-Qathafi to admit his responsibility over the issue of the disappearance of the Shiite Imam Moussa al-Sader in 1978 and two of his escorts.