Libyan leader in France, signs contracts on armaments and nuclear reactor

FRANCE, Moammar Gadhafi swept into town with all the trappings of his Bedouin heritage and got straight to business, cutting euro10 billion (US$14.7 billion) in deals for arms and nuclear reactors on his first official visit to the West since renouncing terrorism and atomic weapons.

The warm welcome Monday for the Libyan leader drew angry protests, including from France's human rights minister, who said rewarding a man accused of rights abuses with business deals was letting him treat France as "a doormat."

President Nicolas Sarkozy defended the visit, saying it is France's duty to encourage states that move toward international respectability. He alluded to Gadhafi's formal renunciation of terrorism and his decision to dismantle a secret Libyan program meant to develop atomic bombs. Sarkozy suggested Libya's example could one day be applied to Iran should it agree to give up a nuclear program that Western powers suspect could be used to develop weapons.

"What would we say today to Iranian leaders if we don't extend our hand to the leader of Libya who chose to turn his back on nuclear arms and terrorism?" Sarkozy said.

Paris, Tuesday, AP