Need Them Like a Hole in the Head’ Irish Parliamentarian Assails Libyan Chief’s Claim He Sends Arms

Richie Ryan, “shadow” foreign minister of the opposition party in the Irish Parliament, accused Libyan Premier, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi today of “unwarranted and criminal Intervention in the affairs of other states.” Ryan referred to Qaddafi’s assertion yesterday that Libya was supplying arms, money and volunteers to the Irish Republican Army fighting British forces in Northern Ireland. He suggested that the Dublin government raise the issue at the United Nations. “Ireland needs armed help from Libya or any other Arab country like she needs a hole Id the head/’Ryan said. Qaddafi referred to the IRA as a beneficiary of Libyan support in a speech marking the second anniversary of the American evaluation of the Wheelus Air Force Base in Libya. His attacks on the US and British governments for support of Israel prompted US Ambassador Joseph Palmer and British Ambassador Pater Tripp to walk out during the speech. (According to a report from Washington today, Palmer made a verbal protest on the spot to the Libyan Foreign Minister. State Department spokesman Charles Bray said at today’s news briefing in Washington that he could not comment on Qaddafi’s speech until its text was studied.)

A spokesman for the British Foreign Office said yesterday that Qaddafi’s claim to be aiding the IRA was a “very grave admission which we cannot ignore.” The leader of the military junta that rules Libya assailed Britain for having “handed over” Palestine to the Jews. The anniversary ceremonies at which Qaddafi spoke were attended by Gen. Numeiri, ruler of Sudan; Premier Aziz Sidky of Egypt and President Idi Amin of Uganda. Gen. Amin recently ousted the Israeli diplomatic and military missions from Uganda and cancelled all Israeli aid missions to his country, alleging that Israelis were trying to overthrow his regime.