Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Opponents of Libya Bombing Campaign Attacks UN Secretary-General in Cairo

Qadhafi Supporters Attack UN Secretary-General In Cairo

3/21/2011 8:00 AM ET (RTTNews) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was attacked by supporters of Libyan leader Moammar Qadhafi in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Monday.

The U.N. chief was heading for Tahrir Square, the melting point of Egypt's pro-democracy protests, after attending a meeting at the headquarters of the Arab League when hundreds of people threw stones and shouted at him in protest against the U.N.-sanctioned military operation in the North African country.

Ban was not hurt in the unexpected attack, but was forced to return to the Arab League building and left by car from another exit, reports say.

Joint air strikes by American, British and French forces to enforce a U.N.-mandated no-fly zone over strife-torn Libya have reportedly destroyed a building in one of Qadhafi's command center in capital Tripoli.

The attack comes a day after Ban told reporters in Paris that "the way Qadhafi has been speaking publicly" made him feel "a bit questionable" whether he could have any "meaningful or constructive dialog" with the autocratic Libyan leader.

The U.N. chief arrived in the Egyptian capital late Sunday to discuss with Foreign Minister Nabil al-Araby the U.N. support for Egypt's social and economic development.

by RTT Staff Writer

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