NATO INTERFERENCE IN LIBYA MOTIVATED BY VESTED INTEREST, SAYS MAHATHIR

     KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- Interference by the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) in the conflict in Libya is motivated by the vested interest
of the organisation's member countries, said former prime minister Dr
Mahathir Mohamad.
    
    "If it's really the intention of the people of Libya (to topple the
government), then it's another matter.
    
    "Definitely there are Libyans who disagree with the government and have
asked NATO or the United States for help but their assistance is actually to
topple the Libyan government.
    
    "The assistance given is motivated by their vested interest and not the
interest of the people of Libya," said Dr Mahathir when asked to comment on the
turbulence in Libya.
    
    The former premier was attending a press conference on sponsorship of the
Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and
Country Club in Bukit Kiara, here, Wednesday.
    
    He said NATO instigating the rebels against the regime of Libyan leader
Muammar Gaddafi would have an implication over other Arab countries.
        
    "This is dangerous for other countries. If their leaders are not liked by
NATO, they may be facing the same fate.
    
    "Now we are seeing a number of countries facing unrest...Yemen, Bahrain,
Syria...If there's no interference by NATO, I believe the rebels will not be
successful," said Dr Mahathir, who is also president of the Perdana Global Peace
Foundation.
    
    According to Dr Mahathir, NATO's interference in Libya was motivated by its
interest in the country's oil wealth.
    
    "Basically, it's about getting the oil. They (western powers) will only
interfere in oil-rich countries.
    
    "During the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina, although thousands of Bosnians
were massacred by the Serbs, they were slow to react. And when they intervened,
they ensured that the Serbs would benefit," he said.
    
    -- BERNAMA