Gaddafi wants to annul laws
2004-04-19 07:46
Tripoli, Libya - Muammar Gaddafi on Sunday called for the abolition of Libya's three decade-old exceptional courts and other strict laws, which human rights groups have long criticized.
During talks in Tripoli with judges and prosecutors, the Libyan leader urged delegates meeting across the country since Saturday in weeklong annual People's Congress forums to annul the laws, which were passed three years after Gaddafi seized power in a 1969 military coup.
Libya's official news agency, Jana, reported that Gaddafi also called for an end to the arrest of people without a warrant and urged the congresses to endorse international anti-torture conventions.
Gaddafi's call comes as Libya, long regarded as a rogue state and sponsor of terrorism, has started winning back international support following the Libyan leader's decision to rid the North African country of its weapons of mass destruction programme and to accept responsibility for the 1988 Lockerbie jetliner bombing and pay compensation to the families of the 270 victims.
It also follows the March visit to Libya by a team of human rights workers from Amnesty International, its first such visit in 15 years.
During the visit, the Amnesty team visited Libyan prisons and met with Gaddafi, urging him to abolish the country's exceptional laws and People's Court, which handles political and security cases, and have ordinary criminal courts take over its jurisdiction.
Gaddafi, at the time, promised to consider Amnesty's recommendations.
Human rights groups have long criticized Libya's legal system, accusing court trials of being unfair and judges of being politically appointed. People convicted by the People's Court have no recourse to appeal nor the right to obtain independent legal counsel.
Libya's exceptional laws have, among other things, banned the formation of political parties and stipulated death penalties for dissidents.
The regional People's Congress forums usually adopt Gaddafi's recommendations, which eventually reach the General People's Congress, Libya's version of a parliament that meets annually in March, for ratification.
There have been occasions when Gaddafi's calls have not been accepted, such as when he called for adopting free education for primary schools.
Gaddafi, who holds that Libya is ruled by the people, abolished the country's constitution when he came to power. His "Green Book" - a political philosophy with a mix of socialism, populism and Arab nationalism - is the closest thing his country has to a constitution.
- SAPA