Libya condemns visit of foreign officials in Benghazi, threatens retaliation

Libya Thursday strongly condemned the visit of foreign officials to the eastern part of the country, particularly Benghazi, the stronghold of the rebel army fighting the regime of Mouammar Kadhafi. The Libyan General People's Committee for External Relations and International Cooperation issued a statement condemning the visits, which it described as 'a flagrant violation of international law, an encroachment on the sovereignty of the Libyan people, a blatant interference in its internal affairs and support to the separatist rebel groups under flimsy pretexts.'

In the statement, Libya threatened retaliation against foreign leaders who visit Benghazi.

Libya said it now reserved the right to establish contacts with movements claiming independence in the Canary Islands, for example, to work towards the liberation of enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla; to forge an alliance with the Basque country to provide support for independence of Scotland, the island of Lampedusa and Pantriya for the return of these territories to Tunisia, their motherland.

Senegal is also targeted by Libya, according to the statement, as President Abdoulaye Wade was expected Thursday in Benghazi.

'The Libyan people have the right to support Casamance rebels, who have been fighting for almost three decades for the independence of their region,' the statement said.