'George W Bush is insane'

2006-04-13 19:36

Tripoli - A senior Libyan official damned the United States on Thursday and said US President George W Bush was insane.

The US "is a damned country, banished from divine mercy and deserving only of being cursed," said deputy Libyan parliament speaker Ahmed Ibrahim, speaking at a conference marking the 20th anniversary of deadly US air raids on the country's two biggest cities.

The 1986 raids were carried out in reprisal for the bombing of a Berlin disco, frequented by US troops, that Washington blamed on Tripoli. About 40 people died in the raids.

Ibrahim said: "The US considers its occupation of our countries to be legitimate and brands as terrorist our resistance.

'America threatens Muslims'

"Bush is insane because he makes all sorts of threats and says all options are open when it comes to the Arab and Muslim worlds, particularly Syria and Iran.

"Who can have confidence in an America that has weapons of mass destruction, that threatens Muslims and insists on Syria leaving Lebanon?

"Why does the US not pull its forces out of Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf?"

Libya has planned a massive build-up festival to mark the anniversary of the raids on Saturday.

An official from the Liyban information ministry said a big festival was planned near the Tripoli residence of President Moamer Kadhafi.

Kadhafi's daughter dead in strikes

Kadhafi's adopted daughter Hana died in the US strike. The commemoration is called the "Hana Festival for Freedom and Peace" in remembrance of her.

US singer Lionel Ritchie and Spanish tenor Jose Carreras will perform in Tripoli on Saturday as part of the festival.

Then US president Ronald Reagan called Kadhafi the "mad dog" of the Middle East in his justification of the US bombings.

Kadhafi never forgave Reagan for the bombings.

When Reagan died in 2004, the Libyan leader said he regretted his death because it meant he could never be prosecuted for his crimes "against the children of Libya".

- AFP