PARIS (Agencies)
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi held a debate in Paris with 1,000 specially invited women on feminist issues- where he revealed that he wants to "save European women".
The audience was warned in advance not to "upset" the Libyan leader and to rise when he arrives at the reception hall, just off the Champs Elysees, where the debate was held.
"Welcome your Excellency," the women chanted as Gaddafi entered the hall, which is near the tent he has made his headquarters while on his Paris trip.
As Arabic music blared, Libya's spiritual leader was given a standing ovation and then Gaddafi, who has a women-only unit of personal bodyguards, staked his claim to be a defender of the feminist cause and an opponent of terrorism.
Most of the women in the audience were of African origin but came to Paris from across France. Most had veils, and many wore elegant African-style evening gowns.
The debate on "the situation of women around the world" was carefully organized. Khadidja Khali, head of the French Union of Muslim Women and pro-Libyan organization, warned the audience "you must not upset him".
In their comments to Gaddafi, some women asked for financial support for their groups and even for air tickets so they could take children from France's troubled suburbs on holidays to Libya.
But they gave several standing ovations as the Libyan leader spoke of the plight of women on his home continent. "Women in Africa are the victims of injustice," he said. "They raise children. Men marry several times and abandon their children."
There was less applause when he criticized "the tragic conditions for women in Europe, sometimes forced to do work that they do not want to do." Gaddafi went on to quote jobs such as mechanics and builders.
"I want to save European women," he said.
"I really appreciated his speech on women in Africa but it was a bit more vague on Europe," said Zahra Boughaz, a 24-year-old, who came to the meeting with 200 others from a woman's association in the northern town of Maubeuge.
"He doesn't seem to really know Europe because here we have choices. Or maybe he was trying to be provocative."
"How can he say he has done a lot for women in the world when he tortured the Bulgarian nurses," said Catherine Chastenet, head of the Women and Freedom association.
"But I am leaving with some hope. He gave guarantees on terrorism," she added. |
 |
Gaddafi condemns terrorism Meanwhile, Gaddafi condemned terrorism at the request of President Nicolas Sarkozy, but his comments failed to quell widespread controversy on Thursday over his lengthy stay in France.
Gaddafi is in France for the first time in 34 years, pitching his Bedouin tent in the gardens of his Paris hotel and stretching out his sojourn over six days.
Opposition leaders and even some government officials have accused Sarkozy of turning a blind eye to human rights violations in Libya in his haste to wrap up business deals with the energy-rich north African state.
Looking to calm the furor, a French presidential source said Sarkozy had asked Gaddafi on Wednesday to condemn the twin car bombings in Algeria earlier this week that killed dozens.
Gaddafi duly obliged and denounced al Qaeda, which has claimed responsibility for the Algeria attack, calling the members "criminals" for the "reprehensible acts".
His comments provided some relief to the presidential palace, which is still smarting from Gaddafi's denial earlier this week that Sarkozy had raised the issue of human rights during their first meeting on Monday. |
|
French press cites "humiliation" "I have the impression that France has been humiliated," senior French Socialist Manuel Valls said on Thursday.
"When the president of the republic is called a liar by Colonel Gaddafi over whether or not the issue of human rights was raised, then you are dealing with an affront, a humiliation," he told RTL radio.
The French press also said Gaddafi's week-long stay was proving a public relations disaster for Sarkozy, who had promised to put human rights first when he took power in May.
"The Libyan leader's stay has become a nightmare for Nicolas Sarkozy," Le Parisien daily said on Thursday.
France was the first Western country to invite Gaddafi for an official visit since he renounced his nuclear weapons programme and support for terrorism in 2003.
Looking to justify the trip, Sarkozy has said it generated 10 billion euros ($14.7 billion) of contracts for French firms.
Critics say many of the deals were reached months ago, and the Elysee admitted on Thursday that the United States could still veto the most eye-catching contract -- the sale of 14 high-tech Rafale fighter jets. |
