Italy Expels Libyan, Denies It’s Reprisal
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ROME — Italy ordered the expulsion of a Libyan diplomat today but said it was not retaliating for Libya’s ouster of 36 Western Europeans, most of them Italian.
The Foreign Ministry said a diplomat from the Libyan consulate in Palermo was being expelled for activities incompatible with his status.
Foreign Ministry sources identified him as Mustafa Mohamed Alakresh and said he had been declared persona non grata.
The expulsion resulted from a “decision finalized in the last few days” and should not be seen as reprisal for Libya’s expulsion of 36 Europeans, including 25 Italians, announced Monday, the spokesman said.
The expulsions by Libya were in retaliation for a European Community decision to cut the number and activities of Libyan diplomats after the European Community accused Libya of backing international terrorism.
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