Gaddafi sorry for shooting of WPC Fletcher
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi apologises for shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher
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By James Christie. |  |
Monday, 26, Oct 2009 10:45
By Richard James.
The Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has apologised for the first time for the shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.
He expressed sympathy for her death outside the Libyan embassy in London in 1984.
WPC Fletcher was policing a demonstration against Col Gaddafi when she was hit by shots fired from inside the embassy.
The incident resulted in Britain severing ties with Tripoli, while no-one has ever faced charges over her death.
In an interview with Sky News, Col Gaddafi failed to provide any insight into who was responsible for the shooting but apologised for her death.
"She is not an enemy to us, and we are sorry all the time and (we offer) our sympathy, because she was on duty, she was there to protect the Libyan Embassy," he said.
"This is the problem that should be solved - but who did it? That is the question. It is always like a persistent matter."
Col Gaddafi described current relations between Libya and Britain as "very, very good".
On the controversial release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Megrahi, the Libyan leader though added he was "not really concerned about it".
"We have economic relations, investment relations, British companies, banks and, indeed, investments over there in England," he said.
"Let me say that economic relations were good even during the time of Lockerbie between our two countries. They were never affected."
During the wide-ranging interview Col Gaddafi also discussed the Middle East crisis, calling for Israel to have its nuclear weapons removed, and Barack Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.
On the US president being awarded the prestigious prize, he said: "I do believe he deserves it, but to be given right now I think it is some sort of hypocrisy, sycophancy, and I think it is premature. It is not due yet."