Palestinians should have nuclear weapons - Libyan leader
UK: Arab nations and "even the Palestinians" should be allowed
nuclear weapons as long as Israel's nuclear ambitions are tolerated,
Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi said in an interview out Monday.
Israel is widely considered to be the Middle East's sole if
undeclared nuclear state, and Kadhafi told Britain's Sky News television
that the international community should also allow its Arab neighbours
to develop nuclear weapons.
"If the Israelis have the nuclear weapons and the nuclear
capabilities, then it is the right of the Egyptians, the Syrians, the
Saudis to have the same - even the Palestinians should have the same
because their counterparts, or their opponents, have nuclear
capabilities," Kadhafi said.
He added: "And, if we don't want this situation, so we'll have to
disarm the Israelis from their nuclear weapons and capabilities."
The Libyan leader said he would oppose Iran acquiring nuclear weapons
if it acknowledges such a goal, but noted Tehran's insistence that its
nuclear program is peaceful - something that Western powers
dispute."Iran, up to now, hasn't said it is manufacturing a nuclear
weapon: Iran says it is enriching uranium," Kadhafi said.
"If Iran were to manufacture nuclear weapons, nuclear arms, then all
of us, including us, will be against them. But Iran has not said so." He
added: "Our position is clear and it should be clear and evident... that
we are against anyone who manufactures, possesses a nuclear weapon,
whether it is Iran, America, Libya, or the Israelis."
Meanwhile he said US President Barack Obama merited winning the Nobel
Peace Prize, but had been given it too soon.
"I do believe he deserves it, but to be given right now I think it is
some sort of hypocrisy, sycophancy, and I think it is premature. It is
not due yet," he said.
London, Monday, AFP |