Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Libya Finally Places Bin Laden on Entry Watch List | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page

Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat- Libya has placed Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden – who is wanted internationally – on a watch list of those entering Libyan territory, to facilitate his arrest and surrender to Interpol.

According to a copy of an official Libyan document obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the international fugitive “Osama Mohamed Awad Bin Laden” born 30 July 1957 is wanted as part of a special joint-bulletin [previously] issued by the UN Security Council and Interpol.

This document, which is an official address from Brigadier General Mohamed al-Ramali, Director of the Libyan General Directorate of Passports and Nationalities, to the Director of the Libyan External Security Organization (i.e. Libyan intelligence), called for Bin Laden’s name to be added to the watch list of those entering Libya, in order to aid his capture and surrender to Interpol.

The document also said “In the event that there is any information about the Al Qaeda leader, this should be referred to Arab and International police forces.”

Bin Laden is considered to be number one on Interpol’s most wanted list. Libya was also the first country to call for an international arrest warrant to be issued against Bin Laden in 1998. The Libyan authorities believe Bin Laden was involved in the death of two German citizens and two Libyan citizens in 1988. Libya also accuses Bin Laden of attempting to establish Al Qaeda cells inside Libyan territory.

The Libyan authorities believe Bin Laden was also involved in the murder of German counter-intelligence officer Silvian Becker, and his wife Vera, near Sirte in Libya in 1994. Tripoli confirmed that the couple were victims of three members of the [Libyan] Islamic Fighting Group. Bin Laden was present in neighboring Sudan when this crime took place, and Libyan authorities claim that he was involved.

Through reconciliation efforts made by Saif al-Islam, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s second son, Libya has succeeded in convincing the Islamic extremists who oppose Colonel Gaddafi’s regime to renounce violence and attempting to overthrow the regime through armed force.

Libya has released hundreds of members of the [Libyan] Islamic Fighting Group, announcing programs for social rehabilitation in the context of the “Libya Tomorrow” reform program being led by Saif al-Islam. However the more prominent leadership figures in this organization remain in prison. The [Libyan] Islamic Fighting Group has recently published a book of jurisprudential clarifications distancing the group from the violent and terrorist operations carried out throughout Libya during the eighties and nineties.