Tripoli, 9 March: The Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister, Mohammed Abdel-Aziz, has said that the Qaddafi regime had been running a secret . . .[restrict]programme hiding weapons inside Libyan embassies around the world.
According to Abdul Aziz these weapons included, pistols, grenades and bomb-making materials, and were transported to the embassies using diplomatic pouches. They were probably intended for the assassination of Libyan dissidents abroad or for operations against the host countries of the embassies.
He added that the extent of this programme is being disclosed for the first time after the new leadership had taken over control of all Libyan embassies abroad and discovered the existence of these weapons.
Abdul Aziz said that Qaddafi government officials had shipped arms to many countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. No-one fully knew the real purpose behind much of this gun-running, or whether the weapons were planned to be used in dealing with specific problems relating to the host countries or against Libyan nationals. He said anything could be expected from the former regime.
Meanwhile it has been announced that the Foreign Ministry has dismissed the Libyan Consul in the Moroccan city of Casablanca. No reason has been given. [/restrict]
