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| Africa North |
| Gaddafi blasts big powers in long UN speech |
| 2009-09-24 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, in a rambling address to the United Nations on Wednesday, accused the veto-wielding powers of the Security Council of betraying the principles of the U.N. charter while offering profuse praise for United States President Barack Obama. The speech, that lasted amost an hour and a half, was the Lybian leader's first ever address to the U.N. "The preamble (of the charter) says all nations are equal whether they are small or big," Gaddafi said through an interpreter. He received a smattering of applause. Reading from a copy of the U.N. charter, Gaddafi said: "The veto is against the charter, we do not accept it and we do not acknowledge it." Clad in a copper-colored robe with an emblem of Africa pinned over his chest, the Libyan leader dropped his paperback copy of the charter on the podium several times before tossing it over his shoulder. The United States, Britain, France, Russia and China are permanent veto wielding members of the Security Council, the most powerful body within the United Nations. Libya has a temporary council seat and will be on the 15-nation panel until the end of 2010. "Veto power should be annulled," Gaddafi said. "The Security Council did not provide us with security but with terror and sanctions," he told leaders gathered for the opening day of the 192-nation General Assembly. Gaddafi, who spoke just after Obama, said the fact that "65 wars" have broken out since the U.N. was established more than 60 years ago proved its founding principles had been betrayed. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 The security council is doing it's job if dictators are frightened. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2009-09-24 15:47 |
| #5 "The Security Council did not provide us with security but with terror and sanctions," he told leaders That's the one statement I agree with! |
| Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091 2009-09-24 12:07 |
| #4 It wasn't all hostile. He called Obama "my son" and said he wants Obama to stay president of the USA forever. I wonder why. |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2009-09-24 11:17 |
| #3 Our local fishwrap headlined its report, "Gaddafi talks, and talks...." |
| Posted by: mom 2009-09-24 09:29 |
| #2 At one point, he even blamed India and Japan for robbing Somalia of its fishing wealth, forcing Somalis to take up piracy |
| Posted by: john frum 2009-09-24 08:48 |
| #1 He even managed to irritate India, calling for Kashmir to be an independent buffer state |
| Posted by: john frum 2009-09-24 08:43 |