Gaddafi Says Libya Came Close To Building Nuclear Bomb
Julie Farby - All Headline News Staff Writer Tripoli, Libya (AHN)-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, whose country abandoned weapons of mass destruction programs in 2003, says that at one stage Libya had come close to building a nuclear bomb. In a speech to Libyan engineers, Gaddafi says, "It is true that Libya came close to building a nuclear bomb. This is no longer a secret ... as everything was laid bare by the International Atomic (Energy) Agency for everyone to see" adding that, "The programs and equipment (to build a nuclear bomb) are known." Gaddafi, who was speaking mainly about the country's need for economic self-reliance, referred to Libya's efforts to gain the bomb as one of several examples of Libyans being successful in challenging endeavors, but declined to give further details. It was the first time any Libyan official has confirmed that the north African country of more than five million had been trying to build a nuclear bomb. In what was considered a startling move, in December 2003 Libya said it was abandoning its weapons of mass destruction programs and would allow in international weapons inspectors. The move helped the OPEC oil producer to repair relations with the West after decades of estrangement over Western allegations that Libya supported terrorism.
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