Jiang hails friendship with Gaddafi

The Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, has described the Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi, as an intimate friend.

Mr Jiang was speaking at the start of two-day visit to Libya.

During a tour of the ruins of Colonel Gaddafi's former residence, which was bombed by American warplanes in 1986, President Jiang told him that the Americans destroyed the walls, but were incapable of destroying principles.

The Chinese delegation includes more than 100 government and business officials. The two countries expect to sign several economic agreements before President Jiang goes on to Nigeria, Tunisia and Iran.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service