Qathafi: high oil prices hurt poor African countries

"High oil prices, if it is to the benefit of the African oil producing countries, it is a calamity to non- oil producing African countries, especially poor African countries." Libya's leader Muammar al-Qathafi told the Libyan news agency JANA in a statement yesterday.

"I have referred to this problem, in my address in the opening session of Sert summit, but we did not do anything in this respect. I deem it my duty, and the responsibility of oil producing African countries, especially Libya, Algeria, Nigeria and Angola to take decisive decision on this issue, which unless we expedite practical measures in this regard, the economies of several African countries will be harmed in a profoundly serious manner, he added.