Manufacturing Industry

Scud missile components seizure part of ongoing inquiry - Brief Article

Airline Industry Information, Jan 12, 2000

The shipment of Scud missile parts bound for Libya seized by the British government at London-Gatwick airport in November was apparently the subject of an inquiry from about April 1999 when the two countries started discussions about re-establishing diplomatic ties.

A British official said that though the government had suspicions about the consignment, the issue was not raised with Libya because the inquiry was not complete and the government `did not want to prejudice the inquiry.`

The consignment was actually impounded in July and formally seized in November, but only announced to the public over the weekend 8-9 January 2000.

Libya said on Monday that the press stories about the seizure are aimed at damaging improving relations between the two countries, while the Taiwan textiles company implicated in the seizure has denied any involvement and called the allegations `ridiculous.`

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