Kadhafi warns West against meddling in Libya crisis

TRIPOLI: Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi on Tuesday warned of dire consequences for North Africa and Europe if there was any Western interference in his country's affairs, in a telephone conversation with the Greek prime minister.

"Greece is a friend of Libya and can pass on this piece of advice to the European Union," Jana news agency quoted Kadhafi as telling Prime Minister George Papandreou.

Kadhafi, who took the initiative for the call, warned that "any violation of Libya's security or stability would necessarily have dire consequences for the security in north Africa, the Mediterranean rim and Europe", said Jana.

His warning came as NATO and the European Union are to meet on the upheaval in the north African country and how to deal with Kadhafi on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.

NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that the North Atlantic alliance was considering all options but that NATO would not act without a UN mandate.

"There is a consensus as to the need for NATO to intervene" with a no-fly zone, a top diplomat from the 28-nation alliance said earlier. He underlined this could not involve ground troops. (AFP)