Gaddafi rails against UN 'terror council'

24 September 2009 | 08:13:55 AM| Source: SBS staff with agencies

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The Libyan leader has told the UN he does not see any difference between Afghanistan's Taliban and the Vatican. (AAP)

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi lambasted the UN's 'inequality' and inability to prevent some 65 wars breaking out since being founded in 1945.

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Delivering a rambling, one-and-a-half hour rant to the United Nations general assembly today, Gaddafi chastised the world body for failing to intervene or prevent some 65 wars around the world since the world body was founded in 1945.

Gaddafi called for reform of the Security Council - abolishing the veto power of the five permanent members - or expanding the body with additional member states to make it more representative.

"It should not be called the Security Council, it should be called the "terror council", he said.

The veto-wielding Security Council powers -- the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia -- treat smaller countries as "second class, despised" nations, Gaddafi said.

"Now, brothers, there is no respect for the United Nations, no regard for the General Assembly," Gaddafi said.

'There's nothing wrong with the Taliban'

The Libyan leader also launched a spirited defense of Afghanistan's hardline Taliban in his speech.

"Why are we against the Taliban? Why are we against Afghanistan?" he asked leaders of more than 120 nations attending the annual General Assembly debate.

"If the Taliban wants to make a religious state, okay, like the Vatican. Does the Vatican constitute a danger against us? No," said the Libyan leader, addressing the 192-member body for the first time in his 40 years in power.

"If the Taliban wants to create an Islamic emirate, who said they are the enemy?" he added.

Swine flu 'created by US military'

Gaddafi even 'revealed' what the world's best micro-biologists and scientists had failed to discover - the source of swine flu.

The infectious virus, claimed Gaddafi, was a creation of the American military-industrial complex.

At one point, he also blamed India and Japan for robbing Somalia of its fishing wealth, forcing Somalis to take up piracy.

And the leader even called for $US 7.77 trillion in compensation to Africa from its past colonial masters.

His speech followed US President Barack Obama's first General Assembly address, but not before a recess of some 15 minutes was called by the Libyan president of the General Assembly so diplomats could be take new seats.

The US Mission was represented by two low- to mid-ranking diplomats. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and US Ambassador Susan Rice departed before Gaddafi ascended the podium.

Gaddafi praises Obama as 'king of kings'

Gaddafi welcomed Obama as the leader of the host nation for UN Headquarters, and hailed Obama's maiden UN General Assembly speech.

There was a commotion in the room as President Barack Obama appeared.

Gaddafi lightly applauded with others then listened raptly with the earpiece held to his left ear.

Gaddafi, introduced as the "king of kings" by his countryman and assembly president Ali Treki, remained in his seat for long after the introduction. 

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Your Comments

27 Sep 2009 8:51 AEST

manforall

From: ningi

Gadaffi

Well he is correct, the United Nations has been a great expensive failure which has failed to prevent war, just like the league of nations. But who wants to hear it from this tyrant?

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