TRIPOLI, 4 March 2003 — Libya’s top executive and legislative body said yesterday it would recall the country’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia in protest at a public spat between Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. Libya’s General People’s Congress also hinted at the possiblity of severing or downgrading diplomatic relations with the Kingdom following the heated exchange at the Arab summit in Egypt on Saturday. The row erupted after Qaddafi criticized Saudi Arabia for hosting US forces as Washington prepares for a possible attack against Iraq. Prince Abdullah interrupted Qaddafi, saying: “...The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not an agent of imperialism like you and others are. Who brought you to power?”
“Don’t speak or interfere in things which you have no luck or chance in,” the crown prince added, before walking out of the room.
The General People’s Congress also threatened to end Libya’s Arab League membership. It is the second time inside 12 months Tripoli has threatened to quit the Cairo-based body after doing so last year in protest at “ineffective policy over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iraq.
