Gaddafi calls for reform of UN, in message to world leaders

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has called for a reform of the United Nations, describing the world body as "one of the greatest farces" in history.

Libyan TV late on Sunday carried an announcer-read message from Gaddafi to world leaders to mark the New Year.

"I do not think I should address to you a traditional message on this occasion, but I address to you some useful ideas and advice," it said.

"I think we should begin with a review of our United Nations organization, the UN, which should not be reprehensible or a tool of good used for evil purposes, as is the case now." Gaddafi said all welcomed the setting up of a union of nations where each was equal, with the task of preventing war.

" But it has become clear that the UN is really a historic trick that has been used as a sword to threaten small peoples" , he said.

Real power lay in the hands of the Security Council and with the superpowers.

"The UN has thus become one of the greatest farces of history, and one of the most damaging to security, peace and the freedom of peoples," Gaddafi said.

"Let us start with reforming it, and the most important reform is to amend the charter, transfer the power of the Security Council to the General Assembly, and turn the Security Council into a simple tool to implement the decisions of the General Assembly" .

Gaddafi said membership of the Security Council should also be reformed.

"There is a group of states which, if they get a permanent seat, will contribute to the strengthening of world peace" , he said, listing them as Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Congo, India, Indonesia and Brazil.

Giving permanent Security Council seats to Germany and Japan was "a silly attempt to please them at the expense of international justice and security," he said.

"If it is necessary to increase the number of permanent seats for Europe, then why not Italy, whose geographical Mediterranean position and historical heritage entitles it to a permanent seat," the message said.

BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.