Niger’s foreign minister said on Thursday that France should not
interfere in its relations with Libya, after Paris said Libya’s new
government had sought help for the return of Gaddafi loyalists.
Some of Gaddafi’s loyalists had fled to Niger after Tripoli was overrun by rebels on Aug. 23.
Three convoys containing important members of Gaddafi’s entourage
have arrived in Niger in the past seven days, including Gaddafi’s son
Saadi, Gaddafi’s security chief and at least two top generals, all of
whom are now in the capital.
Speaking during a lightning visit to Tripoli on Thursday, French
President Nicolas Sarkozy said Libya’s interim leader had asked Paris to
intervene with Niger’s authorities to ensure their return.
Sarkozy said diplomatic contacts would take place on Friday.
“France is a close ally but on questions linked to Libya we would
rather requests it came from Libya and not France. That’s clear,” Niger
Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum told Reuters in a telephone interview.
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