Government Says It Will Quit Arab League

Libya has decided to withdraw from the Arab League, Moammar Kadafi’s government announced. No reason was given, but Libyan officials cited the Arab League’s inefficiency in dealing with the crises over Iraq and the Palestinians.

In a statement by the Libyan news agency, the Ministry of African Affairs said an official notification had been sent to Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Arab League spokesman Hisham Youssef confirmed that the 22-nation organization had received the official notice from the Libyans. The withdrawal does not take effect for a year.