Askari Kanzu
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- Jan 7, 2011
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Now it is confirmed!
Libyan Oil Minister Shokri Ghanem defects
By Askari Kanzu - JF, 17 May 2011.
Shokri Ghanem is said to have defected to Tunisia
(JF. 17 May 2011) - Rumours are abound both in Tripoli and in social media sites that Gaddafi's Oil Minister, Shokri Ghanem, has defected and is now in Tunisia. If this turns out to be true then it will be another major blow to Gaddafi's regime, which has recently come under heavy bombardment from NATO forces, aimed at disabling command and control centres.
On Monday, ICC Chief Prosecuter Moreno Ocampo formally asked judges to issue an arrest warrant for Muammar Gaddafi, and two other senior members of his embattled regime, for crimes against humanity. Gaddafi has however been quick to dismiss the ICC as a "baby of the European union" which was designed to prosecute African leaders. Khaled Kaim, Libya's deputy foreign minister, is quoted as saying: The ICC is not important for us. We are not part of the Rome statute. We will not show any attention to the decision," according to media outlets.
This is not the first time that Ghanem's name is associsiated with resignation from Gaddafi's regime. In a leaked document by Wikileaks, published by The Telegraph, Shokri Ghanem is said to have contemplated resigning from his post already in 2008 due to some disagreements with one of Gaddafi's sons. The document alleges that Ghanem felt compelled to resign because National Security Adviser Muatassim al-Qadhafi, a son of Muammar al-Qadhafi, had approached him in late June with a request for $1.2 billion.
"A close friend of National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman Shukri Ghanem told us that Ghanem is under pressure to provide $1.2 billion in cash or oil shipments to National Security Adviser Muatassim al-Qadhafi (son of Muammar al-Qadhafi), and may seek to resign soon out of fear that Muatassim or his confederates could seek revenge if the funds are not forthcoming. Muatassim reportedly intended to use some of the funds to establish a military/security unit and to support unspecified security upgrades he wanted to make in his capacity as National Security Adviser" says a source as quoted by Wikileaks.
However, asked by journalists at Rixos Hotel about Shokri's alleged defection, government spokesman Musa Ibrahim denied, saying Shokri is still in Tripoli working.
Gaddafi Spokesman denies Al Arabiya report which had said that Shokri Ghanem, Gaddafi's oil minister had defected
Libyan Oil Minister Shokri Ghanem defects
By Askari Kanzu - JF, 17 May 2011.
Shokri Ghanem is said to have defected to Tunisia
(JF. 17 May 2011) - Rumours are abound both in Tripoli and in social media sites that Gaddafi's Oil Minister, Shokri Ghanem, has defected and is now in Tunisia. If this turns out to be true then it will be another major blow to Gaddafi's regime, which has recently come under heavy bombardment from NATO forces, aimed at disabling command and control centres.
On Monday, ICC Chief Prosecuter Moreno Ocampo formally asked judges to issue an arrest warrant for Muammar Gaddafi, and two other senior members of his embattled regime, for crimes against humanity. Gaddafi has however been quick to dismiss the ICC as a "baby of the European union" which was designed to prosecute African leaders. Khaled Kaim, Libya's deputy foreign minister, is quoted as saying: The ICC is not important for us. We are not part of the Rome statute. We will not show any attention to the decision," according to media outlets.
This is not the first time that Ghanem's name is associsiated with resignation from Gaddafi's regime. In a leaked document by Wikileaks, published by The Telegraph, Shokri Ghanem is said to have contemplated resigning from his post already in 2008 due to some disagreements with one of Gaddafi's sons. The document alleges that Ghanem felt compelled to resign because National Security Adviser Muatassim al-Qadhafi, a son of Muammar al-Qadhafi, had approached him in late June with a request for $1.2 billion.
"A close friend of National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman Shukri Ghanem told us that Ghanem is under pressure to provide $1.2 billion in cash or oil shipments to National Security Adviser Muatassim al-Qadhafi (son of Muammar al-Qadhafi), and may seek to resign soon out of fear that Muatassim or his confederates could seek revenge if the funds are not forthcoming. Muatassim reportedly intended to use some of the funds to establish a military/security unit and to support unspecified security upgrades he wanted to make in his capacity as National Security Adviser" says a source as quoted by Wikileaks.
However, asked by journalists at Rixos Hotel about Shokri's alleged defection, government spokesman Musa Ibrahim denied, saying Shokri is still in Tripoli working.
Gaddafi Spokesman denies Al Arabiya report which had said that Shokri Ghanem, Gaddafi's oil minister had defected
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