Cablegate: Media Reaction: Africa: Libya, Bulgarian Nurses'

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #1283 3551030
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211030Z DEC 06
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6187
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7275
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 7669
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2662

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 001283

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: AFRICA: LIBYA, BULGARIAN NURSES'
CONDEMNATION; SAO PAULO

"Qaddafi's Farce"

Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo
(12/21) editorialized: "Three years ago, Libyan dictator Muammar
Qaddafi admitted the possession of weapons of mass destruction and
promised to destroy them. He aimed to reinstate his nation, which
had just emerged from a decade under a UN embargo, into the
international community. Some saw in his attitude a sign that things
were improving in Libya. Unfortunately, that was not the truth. The
judicial farce performed in Libyan courts that condemned to death
five Bulgarian nurses and one Palestinian doctor is evidence that
the nature of Qaddafi's regime remains the same. The accusation
against the defendants is absurd.... The farce was scientifically
refuted by three different reports conducted by respected
international experts.... Qaddafi is using the already classic
tactic of dictatorships of attributing to a 'foreign enemy' the
responsibility for their own incompetence.... Blackmailer Muammar
Qaddafi may have changed in appearance for his own convenience, but
he continues to head one of the world's most odious regimes."
Wolfe

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