AFRICA: LIBYA: GADDAFI FLEES TO NIGER- HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION

Agenzia Fides REPORT - "I think Gaddafi is tired of moving all the time, after opposing resistance to show that he is still strong", says His Exc. Mgr. Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli , Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli to Fides, who is in Italy for medical treatment but will return to the Libyan capital as soon as possible, commenting on the alleged escape of Gaddafi in Niger. A Libyan military convoy entered Niger, escorted by soldiers from Niamey. According to local and French sources, it is possible that Gaddafi might also join the soldiers on the run, before heading to Burkina Faso, whose government has offered diplomatic asylum to the deposed Libyan leader.
"The developments are difficult to predict, which may come to some form of agreement with the Libyan authorities of transition. I seem to catch, however, the signs of real peacemaking efforts", continues Msgr. Martinelli.
Meanwhile, the international press reports, as Human Rights Watch did, several episodes of violence against African immigrants in Libya. "This is a problem that saddens me very much because these poor African immigrants, in one way or the other, are increasingly subject to violence", comments Bishop Martinelli. "I do not know who is responsible for the violence against Africans, whether it is the new authorities or loose groups of 'cleansing'. The Africans offer an important service to the Country, because they do everything. It is true that they have also been exploited as mercenaries, but most of them are employed in civilian jobs, which are indispensable in the new Libya", stresses the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli.
"What is certain is that these episodes demonstrate that there is no full security in the Country. The authorities of transition have however stressed that their priority is security. We will see how this path of reconciliation develops. Hopefully for the better", concludes Bishop Martinelli. (L.M.)

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