LSE in row over links to new Libyan government

Ex-LSE student Saif Gaddafi

Πηγή: LES

By Tom Harper

Nov 4 2011

The London School of Economics is facing fresh criticism, this time over its links to the new Libyan government

The university was embarrassed this year when it emerged it had accepted a £1.5 million donation from Colonel Gaddafi's son, Saif, 39, who is on the run suspected of war crimes. He was also awarded a PhD by the LSE, but his "dodgy" thesis is being investigated over claims of plagiarism and ghostwriting. LSE director Sir Harold Davies stepped down after admitting "errors of judgment" over the university's links with Libya.

Following the end of Colonel Gaddafi's 42-year regime, it has emerged the university was in talks with the new Libyan administration - which has also been accused of atrocities.

Mahmoud Jibril, who was interim prime minister of the rebel government, has held discussions with senior LSE officials over possible training of civil servants in post-Gaddafi Libya. But human rights groups in the country claim the rebels have committed extra-judicial killings and tortured prisoners.

Jibril was forced to resign at the end of last month after claims he tried to install friends and relatives to senior positions in the rebel government and retain the post of prime minister and foreign secretary for himself.

Now, the new administration has been taken over by anti-democratic Islamist elements who proclaimed "Islamic Sharia as the source of legislation, therefore any law that contradicts the principles of Islam is legally nullified". Its new leader, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, has also announced plans to encourage polygamy.

A spokesman for Amnesty International said: "The LSE has a responsibility to avoid being in any way complicit in human rights abuses occurring under the new government. After their involvement with Saif Gaddafi the LSE will surely want to be doubly careful that its dealings with Libya's new rulers do not involve any support for those who have committed atrocities."

The new links between LSE and Libya were uncovered by BBC1's London Politics Show which is broadcast at noon on Sunday.

An LSE spokesman said: "Mahmoud Jibril first contacted us in July, with a view to making appointments in post-Gaddafi Libya. So far the discussion has gone no further."