Gaddafi invites back Italians expelled from Libya

[Old Coot]

Source: Washington Post

ROME (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ended a first visit to former colonial power Italy on Saturday by inviting Italians expelled in the wake of his 1969 revolution to return to the North African country.

Gaddafi's four-day trip has led to a warming in relations. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi apologized for the excesses of Italy's 1911-1943 colonial rule, opening the door to billions of euros of investment from the oil-rich Arab republic.

On Saturday, Gaddafi received a delegation of Italians expelled from Libya when he swept to power four decades ago and promised the doors of his country were open to them.

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Jerbi said Gaddafi did not explicitly speak about the case of Libya's Jewish community which traces its origins to Roman times and has dwindled almost to nothing.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/13/AR2009061301174.html