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Tripoli, 28 June:
A poet, a minister and a major-general are amongst former Qaddafi supporters reported to have been expelled from Morocco, . . .[restrict]sources say.
Imraan Boukraa, a former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Al Khuwaildi Al Humaidi, a former major-general and the broadcaster and poet Ali Al-Kilani are just three of a reportedly large number of Qaddafi loyalists who have been expelled in recent weeks.
Libya has, it is said, also sent a list of 127 names of other Qaddafi associates to the Moroccans. It is not however, clear if the Libyan authorities are seeking the detention and extradition of these individuals or merely wish them to be stopped from entering Morocco.
Al-Kilani, a former director of Libyan Radio was a member of Qaddafi’s inner circle. He is supposed to have requested his family be allowed to remain in the country. However, the Moroccan authorities, it is reported, were adamant that none of Qaddafi’s associates or their families should remain.
Al-Kilani, who also penned verses and was once described as the ‘Poet of the Green Revolution,’ wrote and composed a number of songs under Qaddafi’s regime. One of them criticised Saudi Arabia for preventing Libyan pilgrims from performing the Haj and also for hosting American troops during the first Gulf War.
He also produced a song in 2007 entitled ‘Al Qidis Sadam’ (‘The Holy Saddam’), extolling the fallen Iraqi leader during his trial and hanging. The controversial number was performed by Jordanian singer Amal Al Shalabi.
Al-Kilani and his family are now in Alexandria but, fearing that Egyptian authorities may return him to Libya, he is thought to be considering a further move to Niger, South Africa or Nicaragua.
The Moroccan Embassy in London said they were unable to comment on these reports, which have also not been picked up by the Moroccan press. [/restrict]
