The new regime in Libya has declared that it will follow an independent course in the Arab world, will treat its Jewish citizens on an equal basis with all other citizens and will not tolerate violence against anyone, according to authoritative reports in Italian newspapers.
A spokesman for the military junta that deposed King Idris reportedly told Italian journalists that Libya stands aloof from either Nasserism or Baathism (the regimes of Syria and Iraq), will not accept the “advise” of Mohammed Heykal and in fact would resent a “paternalism” on the part of any Arab leader.
Mr. Heykal is editor of the semi-official Cairo newspaper Al Ahram which is regarded as a mouthpiece for the regime of President Gamal Abdel Nasser. The junta spokesman reportedly said that Libya will fulfill all international agreements and is neither Communist nor any variety of Marxist. He said that Libya will be on the side of the Arabs in all major international issues but has its own role to play in the Arab world and in Africa.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
