SOMALI WARNING TO LIBYANS ON TERRORISM

S E C R E T MOGADISHU 04325

TERREP

FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PTER SO LY
SUBJECT: SOMALI WARNING TO LIBYANS ON TERRORISM


1. SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT.


2. WE REPORTED EARLIER THAT THE SOMALIS HAD INFORMED
US THAT THEY HAD WARNED THE HEAD OF THE LIBYAN
PEOPLE'S BUREAU AGAINST UNDERTAKING ANY ACTION AGAINST
AMERICANS IN SOMALIA. I HAVE JUST HAD ADDITIONAL
CONFIRMATION OF THIS FROM EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR MEKKY
(PROTECT SOURCE),WHO SAYS THAT MFA MINISTER OF STATE
HAMOUD TOLD HIM TWO DAYS BEFORE HAMOUD'S CURRENT TRIP
TO THE NEW DELHI NAM MEETING THAT HE, HAMOUD, HAD
CALLED IN THE HEAD OF THE LIBYAN PEOPLE'S BUREAU.
-

3. HAMOUD TOLD MEKKY THAT HE HAD TOLD THE LIBYAN
THAT THE SOMALIS DID NOT LIKE THE CHARGES BEING
EXCHANGED BETWEEN TRIPOLI AND WASHINGTON. THE LIBYANS
SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT IT HAD TAKEN THE SOMALI
GOVERNMENT A LONG TIME TO AGREE TO RESUME RELATIONS
WITH LIBYA. IN THIS CONNECTION, HAMOUD SAID HE WANTED
TO WARN THE LIBYANS AGAINST ANY ACTION AGAINST
AMERICANS OR AMERICAN PROPERTY. IN REPLY, THE LIBYAN
ASSURED HAMOUD THAT NO SUCH ACTION WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN
AS LONG AS HE REMAINED HEAD OF THE PEOPLE'S BUREAU.


4. I THANKED AMBASSADOR MEKKY FOR THIS INFORMATION,
WHICH I SAID CORRESPONDED WITH WHAT THE SOMALIS HAD
TOLD US. I ADDED THAT (A) LIBYAN PROMISES WERE OF
COURSE WORTH NOTHING, AND (B) ANY ACTION AGAINST US
HERE WOULD PRESUMABLY NOT BE TAKEN BY THE LIBYANS
IN PERSON, AS THE FOREIGN MINISTER HAD IN FACT JUST
WARNED ME (MOGADISHU 4319).


BRIDGES