Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tripoli (Agenzia Fides) - "At noon (local time) the funeral of Saif al-Arab will be held. The office of protocol has invited me, along with the Diplomatic Corps based in Tripoli”, says Archbishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli. Saif al-Arab, 29 years, one of the six sons of Gaddafi, was killed by a NATO raid in his home in Tripoli, with his wife and three of Gaddafi`s grandsons (Saif, 2, Cartago, 3 and Mastura , 4 months). According to the Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim, Gadhafi was also in the house, however, he remained unharmed.
Archbishop Martinelli, referring to the doubts expressed by some media on the truth of the news, says: "Some say that Saif al-Arab is not dead. I can only report what I saw, that is to say a body completely bandaged, but the Libyan government has officially confirmed his death”.
The Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli adds: "Yesterday I went to see the house hit by 4 NATO missiles. The house was a home in the midst of other civilian houses. I think we are playing too much with the lives of civilians. I want to stress that in this raid children died, too . This makes it increasingly difficult for a peaceful solution, because it stirs up anger. Yesterday, as a result of this raid, people set fire to embassies. I repeat that bombs do not solve the problems. I wonder if we should suspend the bombing at least to respect the grief of family members”, concluded Bishop Martinelli. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 02/05/2011)
