US embassy cable - 86MOGADISHU4325

S E C R E T MOGADISHU 04325 
 
TERREP 
 
FROM THE AMBASSADOR 
 
E.O. 12356:  DECL: OADR 
TAGS:  PTER, SO, LY 
SUBJECT:  SOMALI WARNING TO LIBYANS ON TERRORISM 
 
1.  SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT. 
 
2.  WE REPORTED EARLIER THAT THE SOMALIS HAD INFORMED 
US THAT THEY HAD WARNED THE HEAD OF THE LIBYAN 
PEOPLE'S BUREAU AGAINST UNDERTAKING ANY ACTION AGAINST 
AMERICANS IN SOMALIA.  I HAVE JUST HAD ADDITIONAL 
CONFIRMATION OF THIS FROM EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR MEKKY 
(PROTECT SOURCE), WHO SAYS THAT MFA MINISTER OF STATE 
HAMOUD TOLD HIM TWO DAYS BEFORE HAMOUD'S CURRENT TRIP 
TO THE NEW DELHI NAM MEETING THAT HE, HAMOUD, HAD 
CALLED IN THE HEAD OF THE LIBYAN PEOPLE'S BUREAU. 
- 
3.  HAMOUD TOLD MEKKY THAT HE HAD TOLD THE LIBYAN 
THAT THE SOMALIS DID NOT LIKE THE CHARGES BEING 
EXCHANGED BETWEEN TRIPOLI AND WASHINGTON.  THE LIBYANS 
SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT IT HAD TAKEN THE SOMALI 
GOVERNMENT A LONG TIME TO AGREE TO RESUME RELATIONS 
WITH LIBYA.  IN THIS CONNECTION, HAMOUD SAID HE WANTED 
TO WARN THE LIBYANS AGAINST ANY ACTION AGAINST 
AMERICANS OR AMERICAN PROPERTY.  IN REPLY, THE LIBYAN 
ASSURED HAMOUD THAT NO SUCH ACTION WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN 
AS LONG AS HE REMAINED HEAD OF THE PEOPLE'S BUREAU. 
 
4.  I THANKED AMBASSADOR MEKKY FOR THIS INFORMATION, 
WHICH I SAID CORRESPONDED WITH WHAT THE SOMALIS HAD 
TOLD US.  I ADDED THAT (A) LIBYAN PROMISES WERE OF 
COURSE WORTH NOTHING, AND (B) ANY ACTION AGAINST US 
HERE WOULD PRESUMABLY NOT BE TAKEN BY THE LIBYANS 
IN PERSON, AS THE FOREIGN MINISTER HAD IN FACT JUST 
WARNED ME (MOGADISHU 4319). 
 
 
BRIDGES