Libyan leader stirs anger in Italy visit

LIBYAN leader Muammar Gaddafi caused anger yesterday after calling in Italy for Europeans to convert to Islam, and demanding billions of euros to stop migration leading to a "black Europe". The controversial leader returned home after a three-day visit to mark the anniversary of the 2008 signing of a friendship treaty designed to heal bitterness left over from Italy's 1911 to 1943 colonisation of Libya. But he left behind some bad feeling, managing to irk Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's allies and the country's staunchly Catholic community with his comments on religion. "Islam should become the religion of all of Europe," he was quoted in the Italian press as telling 500 young women paid to attend a lecture that he delivered in Rome on Monday. "Islam is the last religion and if we are to have a single faith then it has to be in Muhammad (PBUH)," he reportedly told another lecture, according to a participant.

A Vatican official on Tuesday called the remarks disrespectful to the pope and the Catholic country. "To speak of the European continent converting to Islam makes no sense because it is the people alone who decide consciously to be Christian, Muslim or to follow other religions," said Archbishop Robert Sarah, the secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. Avvenire, the newspaper of Italy's bishops' conference, said the lectures amounted to an "Islamisation propaganda session."

The Libyan colonel's calls also caused discomfort within the coalition of Berlusconi, a close ally of the Libyan leader.

AFP