TRIPOLI, Nov 20 (AFP) - Libyans and others arrested for a recent batch of
violent attacks upon foreigners will soon stand trial, Libyan Justice
Minister
Abdel Rahman al-Abbar vowed Monday.
   Seventy-five people, the majority of whom are Libyan, will be brought to
trial for the deaths of six foreigners during riots last September that
caused
33,000 black Africans to flee Libya, Abbar told a press conference.
   "There will be public trials in the coming days to punish those
implicated
in these events. It is a matter of our honor and our national security,"
said
Abbar.
   He added that the six dead consisted of a Libyan, two Nigerians, a
Sudanese, and two Chadians. The fighting, which occurred in the town of
Zawiyah, 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Tripoli, had begun when a Libyan
tried to stop two Sudanese from raping his sister.
   The minister emphasized that Libya still welcomed its ties with black
Africa. "More than two million black Africans of different nationalities
live
side by side with the Libyan people without any incidents," he said.
   He blasted the Western media for exploiting the episode and alleged that
there had "been an invisible hand responsible for the violence."
   Thousands of Africans have left Libya since the rioting. Upon returning
to
their home countries, some have said that dozens of people died in the
violence.
   Abbar expressed regret for such allegations and warned Libya's former
guests that it "is not right to treat the country that welcomes you in such
a
way."
   fac/np/mb

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