> >August, 2000: A plane carrying six former hostages traveled to Libya on Monday >for an extraordinary welcome by Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi. The Libyan strongman >earned unprecedented international thanks for persuading Filipino rebels to >release the group. The plane left Cebu, Philippines on Monday and landed in >the United Arab Emirates for refueling in the afternoon. After an overnight >rest, it traveled on toward Libya. Hours after the hostages were released, a >radio station in the southern Philippines quoted a spokesman for the Abu >Sayyaf rebels as saying the group had abducted an American. The spokesman, Abu >Sabaya, told the Radio Mindanao Network Tuesday that the man's name was >Jeffrey Craig Schilling and that he was kidnapped Monday near a shopping mall >in southern Zamboanga city and taken to Jolo. The rebels also claimed that he >was a CIA agent. [AP] > >Tuesday, 29 August, 2000: The German government was fulsome in its praise for >Libya's role in helping free the Philippines hostages, but took pains Monday >not to be seen according it full diplomatic rehabilitation. Chancellor Gerhard >Schroeder warmly thanked Colonel Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi and his officials who >have acted as intermediaries in securing the release of the hostages. >Schroeder said: "Great thanks are certainly due to the Libyan government and >the foundation headed by the son of the Libyan president (Seif al-Islam). >"They contributed largely to making this outcome possible." "I can say that >without the intervention of Mr Qadhafi and that of his son and this >foundation, it would indeed not have been possible." But pressed as to the >significance of such strong and rare praise for the regime in Tripoli by the >chancellor, a foreign ministry spokeswoman insisted that Schroeder had >expressed no more than was due in the circumstances. He "did nothing other >than that to be done, that is to say, thank those who played an undeniable >role" in the freeing of the six hostages, the spokeswoman said. [AFP] Tuesday, 29 August, 2000: The only daughter of Libyan leader, Col. Mu'ammer al-Qadhafi, is in Uganda to attend the give-away ceremony of President Yoweri Museveni daughter, Natasha Kaneimbabazi. The Monitor has learnt that Aysha Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi, who arrived at Entebbe International Airport yesterday afternoon, was received by minister of Information, Basoga Nsadhu. Nsadhu confirmed Aysha Qadhafi's presence in Uganda last evening. "I received Col. Qadhafi's daughter and she's now at State House, Nakasero. She has come to attend the wedding of President Museveni's daughter," Nsadhu told The Monitor. [The Monitor] > >Tuesday, 29 August, 2000: Gambian foreign minister Momoudou Sedat Jobe is in >Libya to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. Speaking on >arrival in Tripoli, he recalled the close links between the two countries and >stressed the importance of the African Union, initiated by Libya leader Col. >Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi. The minister praised Qadhafi's efforts at forging African >unity and building a strong continent capable of facing future challenges. >[PANA] > >Tuesday, 29 August, 2000: Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare is expected >Tuesday in Tripoli for a three-day working visit to Libya. Official sources >said Konare would hold talks with Libyan leader Col. Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi, the >major initiator of the African Union Treaty, which Mali was the first country >to ratify. The treaty was adopted by the July summit of the OAU in Lome, Togo. >Mali and Libya also belong to the Community of Saharan-Sahelian States. [PANA] _______________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________
