Saudis, Libyans in war of words
The Libyan press has hit back at Saudi Arabia where newspapers have launched scathing attacks on Libya’s leader Muammar al-Qadhafi.
In a Friday editorial headlined: The Kingdom of the Black Comedy, the pro-government daily al-Jamahiriya criticised the “reactionary” policies of Riyadh such as its ban on women drivers.
Saudi Arabia is a “sick kingdom” where the “extravagant lifestyle of members of the apostate ruling family” jars with the rigid Islamic rules which apply to the rest of the people, said another paper, al-Zahf al-Akhdar.
The editorial came after the Saudi Arabian press took a swipe at al-Qadhafi on Thursday over Tripoli’s alleged role in a plot to assassinate the kingdom’s crown prince.
One newspaper described al-Qadhafi as “mad” and his government as “stupid” after Riyadh announced on Wednesday that it had recalled its ambassador from Libya and would expel the Libyan envoy from the Saudi Arabian capital.
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Prince Abd Allah has recalled the |
Details of the alleged plot to assassinate Crown Prince Abd Allah bin Abd al-Aziz, the de facto ruler of the kingdom, surfaced this year when an American Muslim activist pleaded guilty to illegal financial dealings with Libya.
He testified that he had been involved in a Libyan plan to kill the prince.
Tripoli has denied involvement in any such conspiracy and Libya’s foreign ministry expressed surprise over the decision to expel the Libyan ambassador.