Tracking Number: 131465
Title: Libya has started making chemical weapons again, US chemical weapons now stored on German soil will be taken away this summer. TV Highlights. (900308)
Title: Libya has started making chemical weapons again, despite US efforts to the contrary. TV Highlights. (900308)
Title: Libya is once again
producing chemical weapons. TV Highlights. (900308)
Title: Libya's chemical weapon plant is dangerous and becoming more so, according to the US. TV Highlights. (900308)
Title: Libya's chemical weapon plant is once again functioning. TV Highlights. (900308)
Source: MACNEIL/LEHRER NEWS HOUR (TV PROGRAM)
Date: 19900308
Text:
*NXE401
03/08/90 * NEAR EAST, SOUTH ASIA TV HIGHLIGHTS (Wednesday, 03/07/90 pm - Thursday, 03/08/90 am) (1910)
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
LIBYAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS PLANT -- The White House said today that a chemical weapons plant in Libya is operating again and is a major threat. As expected, the White House would not rule out military action to close the plant down. That is intended to put pressures on Col. Qadhafi to close it down. (Peter Jennings)
U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS WILL BE REMOVED FROM GERMANY -- The West German Defense Minister said today that U.S. chemical weapons now stored on German soil will be taken away beginning this summer. More than 100,000 artillery shells will be remove to an uninhabited island in the Pacific where they will be destroyed. The shells contain about 400 tons of nerve gas, which is about one percent of the total U.S. stockpile. (Peter Jennings)
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
LIBYAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS PLANT -- The White House admits it is not exactly sure what the Col. Qadhafi is up to, but President Bush is convinced that Qadhafi is back in the chemical weapons business. The poison gas complex is in a remote area about 60 miles south of Tripoli. U.S. intelligence reports part of the complex is used to produce the gas and another part is designed for putting the deadly chemicals into weapons, such as artillery shells, bombs and possibly medium-range missiles. The U.S. believes Libya cannot produce chemical weapons without outside help. In the past the U.S. has accused Japanese and West German companies of helping the Libyans with the complex. But both of those governments agreed to crack down on exports of anything Libya could uses for poison gas.
So, who is helping now? Marlin Fitzwater said, "I don't think we can say we know where the chemicals are coming from, but we have taken all precautions against that occurring." That means the U.S. has urged its allies to monitor closely chemical exports to Libya. Privately, U.S. officials suspect West German or Iranian companies. In 1986 Ronald Reagan punished Libya for suspected terrorism by ordering an air strike. The Bush White House refuses to speculate about military action. Qadhafi's spokesmen deny any production of poison gas. U.S. officials tell NBC News production is limited so far, but they fear it will be stepped up. And that is why U.S. officials have gone public with some of their private intelligence reports, to warn Qadhafi they know what he is doing. (John Cochran)
CBS EVENING NEWS
LIBYAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS PLANT - A spokesman for President Bush charged today that Libya is once again producing chemical weapons. He called for international
GE 3 nxe401 efforts to shut down when Libya insists is a medicine factory. The U.S. made similar charges two years ago and pressured West German companies at that time to stop providing raw materials and technical assistance to Libya. Today, the White House Spokesman said he doesn't know where Libya is getting its materials now. Asked if President Bush would rule out a military strike on the plant, the Spokesman said, "We don't rule out anything." (Dan Rather)
CNN WORLD TODAY
LIBYAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS PLANT - Libya's chemical plant at Rabta, according to the White House, is dangerous and becoming more so. Sighting available evidence, Marlin Fitzwater called for a vigorous effort to stop the operation of the plant. Fitzwater refuses to discuss what those efforts might be, but won't rule out military force. Independent observers say about 30 companies from a dozen countries are working at Rabta. The Administration wants its allies to put pressure on Qadhafi. Sources tell CNN the Rabta plant was discussed Tuesday when Italian Prime Minister Andreotti met President Bush at the White House. The Italians apparently don't share Washington's sense of urgency. Independent analysts insist the Germans are still involved in the plant and are even helping the Libyans develop rockets which could be armed with the poison gas. The Administration is not point fingers at the West Germans. In fact, sources say a month ago German agents secretly passed to the U.S. a report disclosing the apparent resumption of chemical weapons production at Rabta. The West German Foreign Minister quietly proposed a joint European-U.S. inspection of the plant. That raised hackles in Washington, however, and the West German ambassador was summoned to the State Department to hear the objection. Qadhafi could easily conceal the plant's activity. Bush Administration officials say they will intensify consultations with other governments in the coming days. (Frank Sesno)
HOSTAGE SITUATION - The relatives of Western hostages in Lebanon rode an emotional roller coaster today. First, Iran's President made his most direct statement so far on the hostages. President Rafsanjani said the hostage issue is moving toward a solution. A few house later a group calling itself the Revolutionary Justice Organization said it will not free its Western captives. (Catherine Crier)
ALI TREIKI, LIBYAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S., INTERVIEWED BY BERNARD SHAW - Treiki: Libya has no intention of producing or using chemical weapons. Libya is ready for immediate international inspection by all countries in the Middle East, including Israel and the Arab countries. There are no laws that prohibit the production of chemical; the laws prohibit their use. The White House accused Libya of producing chemical weapons as part of its disinformation campaign against Libya. If the U.S. has evidence of Libyan
GE 4 nxe401 chemical weapon production, let it come to the Security Council at the U.N. and talk about it. If President Bush tries to take the plant out with a military strike, the Libyans must protect themselves. Even though Libya is small, it will fight to protect itself. Hopes the U.S. will not "do such a stupid action." This would hurt the U.S.'s credibility in the Middle East.
MacNEIL-LEHRER
LIBYAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS PLANT - The U.S. today accused Libya of making chemical weapons. White House Spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said the weapons are being produced at Rabta. Fitzwater called the plant dangerous and becoming more so, but he would not say exactly what the U.S. might do to try to get is closed down. Libya today denied it was producing chemical weapons. (Jim Lehrer)
HOSTAGES - Conflicting Signals from Middle East - There have been indications in recent days that Moslem radicals may be close to releasing American hostages in Lebanon. Lawmakers are asking the White House to appoint a special envoy to take advantage of this window of opportunity, but the signals coming out of the Middle East are conflicting. (Dianna Coricki)
(end text) NNNN
File Identification: 03/08/90, NX-401
Product Name: Wireless File
Product Code: WF
Keywords: LIBYA/Defense & Military; CHEMICAL & BIOLOGICAL WARFARE; LIBYA-US
RELATIONS; HOSTAGES; IRAN/Foreign Affairs; RAFSANJANI, HOJATOLESLAM HASHEMI; TERRORISM; LEBANON/Defense & Military
Thematic Codes: 1NE; 2TE; 1AC
Target Areas: NE
PDQ Text Link: 131465
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