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Libya

Answer

Officials from our embassy in Tripoli immediately visited the sites and raised this issue with the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Benghazi chief of police, making clear our outrage, the need to provide security to the sites and conduct thorough investigations into the attacks. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) made clear our concern to the Libyan Foreign Minister in New York on 12 March. Our ambassador also raised our concerns with the Deputy Foreign Minister, the Minister of Interior and the offices of National Transitional Council Chairman Abdul Jalil and Prime Minister al-Kib. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt) raised this again with the Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz on 15 March and stressed the importance of a thorough investigation. In response to these incidents, Foreign Minister Khayyal and Chairman Abdul-Jalil made statements condemning the attacks, and the Transitional Government published a statement, describing the damage as ““unethical, irresponsible and criminal" and making clear that the Libyan Government ““severely denounces such shameful acts and vows to find and prosecute the perpetrators according to Libyan Law””. The Libyan authorities have instructed the police to make regular patrols and station police outside the cemeteries to ensure no further attacks occur. On the 15th March Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz gave further assurances to Mr Burt that the Libyan Government shared our views on the attacks and would continue to investigate these crimes. We understand that four people have been questioned about the attacks, but that no charges have been brought at this time. We will continue to press the Libyan authorities on the importance of a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. We are in close contact with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) who have confirmed that they will fully restore all the headstones and the Cross of Remembrance which have been damaged. In the interim period, temporary markers will be placed on the graves. The Libyan authorities have publicly confirmed that Libya is committed to restoring the damage in co-operation with CWGC.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

16149; 736 c174-5WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Damage War graves Libya

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk