LIBYA: The Libyan foreign minister says Al Qaeda is helping rebel fighters in the east of the country

Record ID: 402296

  • Title: LIBYA: The Libyan foreign minister says Al Qaeda is helping rebel fighters in the east of the country
  • Date: 8th March 2011
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (MARCH 7, 2011) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** LIBYAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUSA KUSA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN FOREIGN MINISTER MUSA KUSA ON US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING: "Unfortunately he is behaving like a baby he is saying all the people around Gaddafi should be punished." JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (
  • Embargoed: 23rd March 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0G8830CL5JQFZWV2SCJPYQHZ
  • Story Text: Libya's Foreign Minister Musa Kusa on Monday (March 7) accused Britain, France and the US of plotting to divide Libya.
    Addressing foreign journalists at at news conference for foreign journalists for the first time since they were invited by the Libyan government to report on the conflict more than a week ago, he accused U.S. President Barack Obama of being immature when seeking sanctions against Libya.
    "Unfortunately he is behaving like a baby he is saying all the people around Gaddafi should be punished," Kusa said.
    Kusa said Britain, France and the United States had contacted rebel forces with an eye toward splitting the country.
    "It's clear now that France, UK and the United States of American are now getting in touch with the defectors of Eastern Libya,"
    "This means that there is a conspiracy to divide and partition Libya," Kusa continued.
    "This is clear evidence that the super powers are undertaking a plot against Libya. It is obvious," Kusa said.
    Kusa said that about 300 trained al Qaeda fighters formerly held in Guantanamo Bay were supporting rebel forces in the eastern part of the country.
    Addressing a news conference, he also accused Western powers of trying to help the rebels split Libya.
    A British diplomatic team said to include special forces left Benghazi on Sunday (March 6) after being held shortly by rebels surprised by their visit.
    Kusa said al Qaeda fighters who re-armed after being released from the United States prison in Cuba made up the core of the military threat presented by the rebel forces.
    Separately, the Tripoli government admitted for the first time that a small group of rebels was still putting up resistance in Zawiyah, a town 50 km (30 miles) west of the capital that it had previously said was under its control.
    Swiss-based exile group Libyan Human Rights Solidarity said forces loyal to Gaddafi had launched a new attempt to capture Zawiyah but this could not be verified because residents in the town were no longer reachable by phone.

    MOUSSA KOUSSA
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