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U.S. Probes if Gaddafi Ordered Saudi Leader Killed
By Saul Hudson and Deborah Charles
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is investigating allegations Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (news - web sites) ordered the assassination of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Washington has raised concerns with Tripoli over the accusations by an American Muslim in custody in the United States that Gaddafi instructed Libyan intelligence agents to kill Crown Prince Abdullah, a State Department official said.
The investigation began last year as the United States and Britain were dramatically improving its ties with its longtime adversary Gaddafi, who renounced terrorism and decided to dismantle his illegal weapons of mass destruction.
"We immediately raised our concerns with the Libyan leadership and the Libyans assured us that they did not and would not support violence in settling political differences," said the State Department official, who asked not to be named.
Last year, Abdullah and Gaddafi clashed publicly at an Arab League summit. The Saudi walked out after angrily pointing his finger at Gaddafi and questioning how he had come to power.
The allegations, if confirmed, could jeopardize Libya's efforts to get off the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, which imposes sanctions including a ban on receiving U.S. aid and arms.
If proven, the allegations could also call into question President Bush (news - web sites)'s April decision to relax a trade embargo to allow U.S. firms to buy oil and invest in Libya for the first time since 1986 in a reward for Gaddafi's weapons decision.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites)'s official spokesman told reporters he could not comment on the particulars of the case because of ongoing proceedings.
"In all our contacts with Libya, including the prime minister's conversations with Gaddafi, he made it absolutely clear that all terrorism of all kinds must stop and that message was well understood by Libya," the spokesman said.
PLEA BARGAIN ACCUSATION
Gaddafi's son, in an interview in London, called the accusation nonsense, according to the New York Times, which first reported the plot. Saudi officials in Washington were not immediately available to comment.
Abdurahman al-Amoudi, a U.S. Muslim activist awaiting trial on charges of illegal financial dealings with Libya, told the FBI (news - web sites) he was a participant in the assassination plot approved by Gaddafi, a U.S. government official said.
The statement from Al-Amoudi was given as part of a plea bargaining deal to avoid a trial, said the official, who also asked not to be named. Al-Amoudi's accusations were similar to those made by a Libyan intelligence officer in Saudi custody.
"I do not know that there is any indication of a direct link between Gaddafi and the alleged plot but that is something law enforcement is investigating," the State Department official said.
Some relatives of victims of the Lockerbie airline bombing carried out by Libyan intelligence agents say the Bush administration has been too trusting in bringing Gaddafi back into the international community.
Libya remains on the U.S. blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism while the United States investigates its possible residual links to militant groups, according to State Department officials.
"Accusations like this underscore the need for Libya to clearly and unequivocally demonstrate that they have severed all links with terrorists," the State Department official said. |
