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Amid Thaw, Gadhafi Visits Italy for 1st Time

Libyan leader will meet Berlusconi, 700 most powerful women

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2009 1:15 PM CDT

(Newser) – Today marks the start of Moammar Gadhafi’s first visit to Italy since he took over Libya in 1969—and the trip “promises to be as colorful as it is historic,” notes Richard Owen in the Times of London. That’s thanks in part to his 300-member entourage and his plan to meet with 700 Italian women in the upper echelons of “politics, industry, and culture.”

Libya holds that Gadhafi is “an emancipator of women,” noting an increased proportion of female workers in the country since he took power. The trip comes amid increasing contact between Gadhafi’s country and Italy, which controlled Libya until 1943 and killed or imprisoned thousands; Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi offered an apology and nearly $5 billion last year in hopes of lucrative contracts.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, left, and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi review a honor guard upon his arrival at Rome's Ciampino military airport, Wednesday, June 10, 2009. Gadhafi is on a three-day... (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, foreground, and Mohamed Omar Al Mukhtar, behind him, son of Omar Mukhtar, a former hero of the war between Libya and Italy, disembark after landing at Rome's Ciampino airport,... (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi (L) attends a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano (R) at the Quirinale Palace on June 10, 2009 in Rome, Italy. (Getty Images)

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, right, is greeted by Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi upon his arrival at Rome's Ciampino military airport, Wednesday, June 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is welcomed by Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi after landing at Rome's Ciampino airport, Wednesday, June 10, 2009. Gadhafi is on a three-day official visit to Italy. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

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Amid Thaw, Gadhafi Visits Italy for 1st Time

Libyan leader will meet Berlusconi, 700 most powerful women

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Amid Thaw, Gadhafi Visits Italy for 1st Time

Libyan leader will meet Berlusconi, 700 most powerful women

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

women • Italy • Libya • colonialism • Moammar Gadhafi • Silvio Berlusconi

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

There Were 2 Crazy Plots to Smuggle Out Gadhafi's Son

Plans to get al-Saadi Gadhafi out of Libya were 'Indiana Jones-style'

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Doctors Without Borders suspends work over 'exploitation'

Pro-Gadhafi Fighters Retake Libyan Town

Pro-government soldiers pinned down in Bani Walid

Gadhafi's Death May Have Been a War Crime

Head of International Criminal Court calls killing suspicious

Mexico: We Busted Plot to Smuggle in Gadhafi Son

Al-Saadi planned to hit resort, now in Niger

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Newser By Users

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