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Gaddafi son backs Bush on reform
The son of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi says he agrees with US President George W Bush that the Middle East needs democracy.The lack of democracy meant in some nations the wrong people were promoted to key posts, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi told Austria's Die Presse newspaper. But he said Libya was not yet ready for major reform and needed to focus on its economy and attracting investment. Analysts say Mr Gaddafi is his father's most trusted unofficial envoy. He was believed to have been instrumental in Libya's drive in 2003 to abandon attempts to develop nuclear, biological and chemical weapons after months of secret negotiations with London and Washington. Tourists Mr Gaddafi, 33, said in the interview his goal was to improve the quality of life for Libyans. That meant a need to reform the state-run economy and carry out privatisations to attract foreign investors and US oil companies, he said. "Libyans want a better life. They want reforms and good relations with Europe and the United States," said Mr Gaddafi. "They want to see foreign investment and more European tourists in Libya." Although ties with the US have improved in recent years, Washington has still not resumed full diplomatic links with Libya. Col Gaddafi has eight children, seven of them sons. Posted by: tipper 2006-02-10 |
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