Secretary General Kurt Waldheim issued a statement today expressing “profound sympathy” to the families of those who died in the crash of the Libyan airliner and urged “the most thorough investigation of the circumstances in which this appalling disaster took place.” He also expressed shock and distress that “innocent and defenseless people have lost their lives in one of the most shocking incidents in the history of civil aviation.” Waldheim also sent messages of sympathy and condolences to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and to Libyan Prime Minister Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.
The British Mission to the UN also expressed shock at the “loss of innocent life.” The Mission called for “full and impartial investigation” of the tragedy. Letters of condolence were sent to the Egyptian and Libyan UN Missions.
Waldheim met last night with the Egyptian UN Ambassador Abdel Meguid who reportedly demanded an investigation by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Following the meeting, the Secretary General telephoned Israeli UN Ambassador Yosef Tekoah to express his shock over the incident. Tekoah met with Waldheim at noon today, but no information was available regarding the context of the discussion. It was learned that Waldheim will meet Saturday with Hafez Ismail, President Anwar Sadat’s security advisor. Sources said the Waldheim meeting with Ismail was arranged before the Libyan plane incident.
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