Africa's riches 'stolen'
2006-04-06 09:51
Dakar - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi called on Wednesday on Africa's former colonial rulers to pay out compensation for the continent's "stolen" riches.
He said: "We don't want donations, we're not stretching out our hands, we're not beggars.
"We just want them to give back what they stole from us", citing diamonds, oil and manganese - essential to iron and steel production - among other mineral riches.
Gaddafi was in Senegal to mark the former French colony's 46th anniversary of independence.
He said: "There must be compensation so that colonialism does not return. It is a legitimate civic duty for Senegal, but equally for all the countries that were colonised.
"These demands for compensation are in the interests of the countries, which colonised us. If they can't pay damages, they should find another formula."
He also called for apologies from nations such as Britain, France, Italy - which once ruled Libya - for the damage they had inflicted.
Gaddafi said Africa should put up a united front after negotiating with major powers and encouraged use of native languages such as Swahili, Peul and Hausa.
- AFP