Kadafi Aide Calls on U.S. to Give Libya Proof of New Terror Claims

Maj. Abdel-Salam Jalloud, Libya’s second in command, challenged the Reagan Administration on Saturday to furnish details on planned Libyan terrorist action so that Libya can “abort such attacks and apprehend the individuals” to avoid a confrontation with the United States.

Though generally conciliatory in tone, Jalloud’s comments to a group of journalists were punctuated with defiance along with vows to drag Europe into any battle if Libya is attacked.

He said Libya was part of the socialist world and would not be “left to face the NATO alliance alone,” citing a U.S. naval buildup in the Mediterranean, the transfer of 18 F-111 bombers to Britain and what he said is the targeting of cruise missiles on Libya.

“All statements and military preparations indicate there will be new aggression against Libya,” Jalloud said, referring to U.S. news reports of possible strikes against Libya should there be more terrorist acts against Americans or American interests. “The Libyan people totally reject and refuse the accusation of terrorism. They are the first victims of organized state terrorism led by the American Administration,” Jalloud said, speaking slowly as his comments were translated into English. He repeatedly stressed that if the United States disclosed names and specifics on purported terrorist plots, “We will cooperate fully to avert and abort such attacks and apprehend the individuals and put them on trial.”

Jalloud said that the Reagan Administration had been sent a request for such information through diplomatic channels but that it had gone unanswered.