Gadhafi in South Africa
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Tuesday, June 15, 1999
CAPE TOWN [MENL] -- Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi arrived in South
Africa
for Wednesday's inauguration of incoming President Thabo Mbeki in
Pretoria.
Outgoing President Nelson Mandela greeted Libyan leader Moammar
Gadhafi, on
his first official foreign trip since sanctions against his nation were
suspended.
At a lunch given in Gadhafi's honor, Mandela referred to Gadhafi as
"my brother
leader" several times.
"We look forward with joy and anticipation to the full re-entry of
Libya into the
affairs of our continent and the world," Mandela said.
Gadhafi arrived in South Africa, following a visit to Zambia, where
he discussed a
Congo peace initiative with Zambian President Fred Chiluba.
Mandela lauded Libya's attempt to mediate in Congo's civil war.
Libya brokered a
peace agreement in April between Uganda, which is supporting Congolese
rebels, and
the government of President Laurent Kabila. But the agreement failed
because Uganda
refused to withdraw its troops until a lasting settlement could be
reached.
Tuesday, June 15, 1999
| 