Tripoli | Wednesday
LIBYAN leader Moammar Gadaffi on Tuesday condemned the “terrible” attacks on the United States and said his country was ready to send aid to the American people, the official Jana news agency reported.
“Different policies and the conflicts with America shouldn’t be a psychological obstacle to sending humanitarian aid to the American people and all people in America who were profoundly affected by these terrible attacks,” Gadaffi said.
“It is our humane duty to stand side-by-side with the American people despite our political conflict,” he said, saying Tuesday’s attacks could not fail to reach our “human conscience”.
In reference to humanitarian aid, Gadaffi referred in particular to the “appeals of United States hospitals for blood donors for the injured”.
He did however add that “practical means had to be found for delivering aid to those hurt and we are waiting on America to announce how to ship it after the suspension of flights”.
Washington does not have diplomatic relations with Libya and wants Tripoli to recognise its responsibility in the Lockerbie attack of 1988, which left 270 dead, and compensate the families of the victims.
‘It is our humane duty to stand side-by-side with the American people despite our political conflict’
In August, President George W Bush said that Washington could foresee establishing better relations with Libya if it is prepared to address the issues that weigh on the US, in particular over the support for terrorism.
The US pointed the finger of blame after the attacks in the US Tuesday towards the Saudi-born billionaire Osama bin-Laden, who is in hiding in Afghanistan and features on the FBI’s list of the 10 most wanted people in the world.
The US has already accused him of orchestrating the attacks against two US embassies in August 1998, in Kenya and Tanzania, which left 224 people dead.
On September 1, Kadhafi mocked the United States for its inability to deal with bin Laden.
“He is a tiny man, weighing no more than 50 kilograms. He has only a Kalashnikov rifle in his hands. He doesn’t even wear a military uniform,” the Libyan leader said.
“He wears a jalabiyah (Arab robe) and turban and lives in a cavern, eating stale bread. He has driven the USA crazy, more than the former Soviet Union did. Can you imagine that?” Gadaffi said. – AFP