Analysis: The hand of friendship has been bitten hard (re Libya)

[snagglepuss]

Source The Scotsman


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Last night (Feb 20), Gaddafi told Europe that if it cuts trade ties, Libya is ready to "flood" our southern shores with African immigrants.

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And the immigration threat is not to be taken lightly. Not so long ago Libya was the main conduit for Africans streaming north to Europe in the hope of a better life. It happily took the cash of people-smugglers to dispatch them in their tens of thousands towards Italy.

Then Rome gave Gaddafi £120 million in aid and a few patrol boats. Illegal immigration into Italy dropped 96 per cent.

Gaddafi has already warned Europe that the price to keep the tap switched off is a €5bn bribe. "Italy needs to convince her European allies to accept this Libyan proposal," he warned last year. "Europe runs the risk of turning black from illegal immigration; it could turn into Africa."



http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/libya/Analysis-The-hand-of-friendship.6721637.jp