Tit-for-tat meaures: Libya claims to know Sarkozy secret

Libya threatens to sever ties with France over its recognition of anti-Qaddafi forces.

TRIPOLI:

Libya’s state media on Thurs­day claimed that a "grave secret" would prompt the fall of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, hours after France became the first country to officially recognise the self-proclaimed rebel national council.

"The Jamahiriya news agency has learned of a grave secret that will trigger the fall of Sarkozy, maybe his trial in connection with fundings for his presidential campaign," state television reported.

Libya reacted angrily to France’s recognition of the rebels , saying it would consider severing ties with it. "Libya will think about severing its relations with France because of information being circulated about France's damaging intervention in Libya's internal affairs," Jana quoted an unnamed foreign ministry official as saying.

France's move prompted the rebels to call on other European Union states to follow suit. Soon enough Britain described the Libyan opposition as "valid interlocutors." But Germany expressed caution on the issue, with a high-ranking government source saying the question of recognising the rebels "has not arisen".

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "The UK recognises states, not governments. The Interim National Council is a valid interlocutor with whom we wish to work closely."

Britain has made it clear that Muammar Qaddafi "must go and now", the spokeswoman reiterated. "We are working closely with international partners to achieve this. We are considering a range of options and look forward to discussing these with President Sarkozy and other partners at tomorrow’s European Council."

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said his country would seek the opinion of other European nations before deciding whether to recognise the rebels. "That's a decision by a single government," Berlusconi told a news conference when asked if Italy would follow France in backing the rebels. "I think it's better for us to listen to the stance of the entire European community."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy raised the idea of targeted bombings in Libya during talks with members of his UMP political party ahead of an EU summit on the Libyan crisis, two party sources said on Thursday.

Sarkozy told UMP party members that limited, targeted bombing was among ideas being considered, the UMP party sources said.

The three sites being considered are Qadhafi's Bab al-Azizia command headquarters in Tripoli, a military air base in Syrte, east of Tripoli and another in Sebha in the south, the source added. "We are not there yet. We are first going to ask for legal authorisation to prevent the use of force by Qaddafi," said an official.

In Lisbon, meanwhile, an envoy of Qaddafi met Portugal's Foreign Minister Luis Amado to explain Tripoli's view of the conflict in the North African country, the foreign ministry said.

Libyan government emissaries also appear to have flown to Brussels to talk to European Union and Nato officials meeting on Thursday and Friday.

The rebel leadership said that the oil port of Ras Lanuf in eastern Libya is under heavy bombardment, but denied its fighters had been driven out by government forces. People in the village of Nawfaliyah say they are being blockaded by forces loyal to Qaddafi and face food and water shortages.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2011.