2 Qaddafis Fought Over Business, Cables Show

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Soon after Coca-Cola decided to move into Libya in 2005, it received a harsh lesson in how the personal jealousies and brutality of the feuding family of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi shape the nation’s economy.

Two of Colonel Qaddafi’s sons began to fight for control of the local Coca-Cola bottling company, and their battle turned into an armed confrontation dominated by a militia loyal to one of the sons, according to American diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks. The dispute was settled when Colonel Qaddafi’s daughter intervened, but only after at least one worker was hurt, one Qaddafi cousin was stuffed into the trunk of a car and the Coca-Cola plant was shut down for months, the cables said.

The episode provides a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Qaddafis and more broadly underscores how the whims of ruling families have tainted the climate for economic development in parts of the Arab world.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/world/africa/03cables.html

[somone]

1. Too bad their thievery and thuggery can't be as refined as, say, the Bush crime family

[2banon]

2. courtesy of Wikileaks..

I read similar article in the Guardian today, and i was simply astounded. they sound more like the Gambino family or perhaps more accurately Mario Puzo's Corleone family.


edited for spelling

[Arctic Dave]

3. And yet the world had no problem doing business with them.

Profits uber allies.