Reagan Orders All Americans Out of Libya, Bans Trade : Calls Kadafi a ‘Pariah in the World Community,’ Declares an Emergency

President Reagan, denouncing Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi as “a pariah in the world community” for his support of terrorism, Tuesday ordered all Americans to leave the North African country and directed U.S. companies to break off all economic dealings with it or face criminal prosecution by the United States.

In a toughly worded statement at the outset of a nationally televised news conference, Reagan declared a “national emergency” to deal with what he called a threat to U.S. security posed by Libya’s actions. He also cited what he termed “irrefutable evidence” of Kadafi’s involvement in the Dec. 27 terrorist attacks on airports in Rome and Vienna in which 15 travelers, including five Americans, were killed.

And, Reagan declared, if the new steps do not end Kadafi’s involvement with terrorism, “I promise you that further steps will be taken.”

The President spoke in firm and measured tones, and at times his expression was almost grim. However, he did not depart from the carefully worded text of his statement and showed little emotion as he declared a total ban on any commerce between the United States and Libya except for humanitarian purposes.

Ordering Americans to leave a foreign country is considered a highly unusual action for a President and underscores the depth of the Administration’s feeling. A senior Administration official said that Reagan’s executive order imposing the new sanctions effectively prevents Americans from living in Libya legally because it bans even such routine commercial transactions as paying rent or buying groceries.

If the Americans remain in Libya after Feb. 1, the official said, they will be committing a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Reagan declared that direct responsibility for the terrorist acts in Rome and Vienna “lies squarely” with radical Palestinian leader Abu Nidal and his organization.

No Sanctuary

“We shall make every effort to bring Abu Nidal and other terrorists to justice,” said Reagan. “But these murderers could not carry out their crimes without the sanctuary and support provided by regimes such as Col. Kadafi’s in Libya.”

Kadafi has conceded that Abu Nidal has been in Libya but has denied supporting any terrorist acts by the Palestinian and has denied any personal involvement in the attacks in Rome and Vienna. European leaders also have raised questions about whether there is credible evidence of Kadafi’s involvement.

When reporters pressed Reagan about what he called “irrefutable evidence of his role in these attacks,” he said, “I can assure you we have the evidence.” But he declined to discuss the matter in detail, implying that to do so might compromise U.S. intelligence sources and methods.

The new U.S. sanctions are considered unlikely to have a substantial economic impact on Libya because earlier U.S. sanctions have slowed commerce between the two countries to a trickle.

Because of earlier charges of Kadafi’s involvement with terrorism, U.S. economic sanctions were imposed against Libya in 1978 and have been tightened progressively since January, 1980, when exports that would directly contribute to military or terrorist potential in Libya were banned.

Reagan on Tuesday also urged Western allies to join this country in the sanctions against Libya. However, other countries so far have refused to do so, and the President acknowledged that economic realities in some allied nations may make it impractical.

Libya is an important source of oil for many countries in Western Europe. Also, the unusually high quality of Libyan oil makes it difficult to replace in world markets.

Total Trade Ban

The President said his order for sanctions--some of which take place immediately and others no later than Feb. 1--will totally ban direct import and export trade with Libya, except for humanitarian purposes. Commercial contracts and other transactions with Libya, including travel-related activities other than those needed by journalists or to carry out the President’s order, are prohibited.

When the United States expanded its economic sanctions in 1981, during a period of extreme tension marked by the downing of two Libyan warplanes by U.S. F-14 fighters, there was an exodus of Americans from the country.

An estimated 1,000 to 1,500 Americans still live in Libya and have spurned past attempts by the United States to persuade them to leave. Although information about these Americans is sketchy, many are believed to be employed in the oil industry there or to be dependants of oil workers.

Marriages to Libyans

It is believed, however, that many of them also may be married to Libyan citizens and not involved in commercial activity with that country.

In his statement, Reagan warned that Americans living in Libya who violate his orders barring economic activities “should know that they will be subject to appropriate penalties upon their return to the United States.”

And he warned Libya that it is “fully responsible for the welfare of those Americans still in Libya, and Libya . . . will be held accountable for any attempt to harm them or restrict their freedom to depart.”

‘Criminal Outrages’

Reagan, noting that Kadafi called the Rome and Vienna terrorist attacks “heroic acts,” declared: “I call them criminal outrages by an outlaw regime. By providing material support to terrorist groups which attack U.S. citizens, Libya has engaged in armed aggression against the U.S. under established principles of international law, just as if it had used its own armed forces.”

Meanwhile, the recent movement of U. S. ships off the Libyan coast has fed speculation that this country might be considering launching an attack on Libya in retaliation for the Rome and Vienna attacks.

And California Rep. Don Edwards (D-San Jose), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Reagan earlier Tuesday reminding him that any military attack or blockade against Libya would be an act of war requiring prior congressional approval.

Pentagon officials said the Joint Chiefs of Staff, other military planners and Administration officials would have been faced with several problems had Reagan chosen military options.

Military Problems

These included: identifying those responsible for the airport attacks and finding them, striking the assigned targets without hurting civilians, and obtaining cooperation from allies if support in Europe was needed.

In addition, any military moves could place the Americans living in Libya in jeopardy.

“The concern has to be the civilians there,” the official said. “Even if they’ve been warned” that their situation is precarious, “they’re still American citizens. That has to be a military consideration.”

Before the press conference Administration officials worked throughout the day trying to persuade the allies to join Reagan in at least a symbolic show of support. The President talked personally to at least one head of state--Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney--and there were indications that Canada may be willing to go part way with Reagan. But Reagan went ahead without any guarantee of Western support.

Reagan also announced that the United States and its allies have successfully thwarted 126 terrorist missions. According to the Justice Department, the incidents included 103 outside the United States and 23 in this country.

But the menace of future suicide missions by terrorists remains, Reagan warned. “Kadafi himself has referred to more suicide terror attacks--in other words, finding some poor soul fanatic enough that they can be told, ‘You’ve got a free ride to heaven,’ if they go out and give up their own lives to kill someone else,” he said.

Speaking of Kadafi, he declared bluntly: “I find he’s not only a barbarian, but he’s flaky.”