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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Gaddafi in Nigeria airport drama | Gaddafi in Nigeria airport drama |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has been involved in a diplomatic incident as he arrived in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for a summit. | Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has been involved in a diplomatic incident as he arrived in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for a summit. |
| Nigerian officials say Col Gaddafi was accompanied by more than 200 heavily armed Libyan bodyguards. | Nigerian officials say Col Gaddafi was accompanied by more than 200 heavily armed Libyan bodyguards. |
| When security officers refused to allow them to keep their weapons, an argument ensued and Col Gaddafi stormed off. | When security officers refused to allow them to keep their weapons, an argument ensued and Col Gaddafi stormed off. |
| Only when Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo intervened did the bodyguards agree to hand in their weapons. | Only when Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo intervened did the bodyguards agree to hand in their weapons. |
| Foreign ministers from Africa and Latin America have been preparing for the summit which gets under way on Thursday. | Foreign ministers from Africa and Latin America have been preparing for the summit which gets under way on Thursday. |
| The size of Libya's delegation was not a problem, it seems, just the sheer amount of weapons and ammunition they carried. | The size of Libya's delegation was not a problem, it seems, just the sheer amount of weapons and ammunition they carried. |
| So Nigerian security refused to let them proceed to the capital. | So Nigerian security refused to let them proceed to the capital. |
| As arguments raged, the Libyan leader angrily set off on foot, intending to walk some 40km (25 miles) to the capital, before he was persuaded to return to the airport lounge. | |
| Intervention | Intervention |
| By sheer coincidence, President Obasanjo was passing through the airport at the same time. | By sheer coincidence, President Obasanjo was passing through the airport at the same time. |
| He intervened in person and proposed that the weapons could be allowed through if they were registered first. | He intervened in person and proposed that the weapons could be allowed through if they were registered first. |
| But the Nigerians say that was rejected and the Libyan delegation threatened to fly home. | But the Nigerians say that was rejected and the Libyan delegation threatened to fly home. |
| Incensed, the Nigerians said that was fine with them and told the delegation that instead of the original compromise, they could now only carry eight pistols if they wanted to enter Nigeria, like any other diplomatic security detail. | Incensed, the Nigerians said that was fine with them and told the delegation that instead of the original compromise, they could now only carry eight pistols if they wanted to enter Nigeria, like any other diplomatic security detail. |
| They ordered that the rest of the weaponry had to be put back on the Libyan official jet. | They ordered that the rest of the weaponry had to be put back on the Libyan official jet. |
| After a stand-off lasting several hours, the Libyans backed down and finally made their way to Nigeria's capital. | After a stand-off lasting several hours, the Libyans backed down and finally made their way to Nigeria's capital. |