Mid-East press debate Libya move

Papers in the Arab world continue to debate Libya's decision to come clean about its weapons of mass destruction programmes.

Libyan papers praise the move as a bold step to relieve tension, while commentators in other Arab countries see it as a recognition of past mistakes.

But some are unhappy with the decision, and warn that West may make further demands.

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The Libyan move is a declaration of war against the diplomacy of death. The Libyan decision puts extraordinary pressure on the Israelis. The myth of their fear of Arab weapons no longer stands. Their weapons will not remain ignored or hidden from the eyes of Blix and ElBaradei.

Al-Jamahiriyah - Libya

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By taking such a tough decision, the Great Jamahiriyah will serve as a role model that all big powers should emulate before smaller nations. This further shows the Jamahiriyah's commitment to a civilised world which is not threatened by the dangers of WMD.

Al-Shams - Libya

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Today our world possesses all the means to destroy the entire planet, but not the means to revive it... Because of this, Libya's decision was bold and courageous, and goes in the right direction. The international community is strongly invited to follow the Libyan example by destroying WMDs.

Al-Jamahiriyah - Libya

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Gaddafi's implicit recognition shows that he was wrong to acquire WMDs and spend billions of US dollars on it... This is a further clear realisation that the revolutionary approach Gaddafi followed right from the time he came to power through a military coup was wrong... And by announcing his repentance, he now wants to be welcomed back into the international community's fold.

Al-Anwar - Lebanon

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We disagree completely with this idea of abandoning WMDs. We do not support this kind of justification, especially when it comes from Libya, not because it contradicts Gaddafi's Green Book, which is regarded by the Libyan leadership as the sole written revolutionary constitution, but because it completely contradicts all the principles of the Libyan revolution and Arab and Islamic values.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi - London-based

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Libya's political decision is a recognition of the changes taking place in the world, and a realisation that the people's interests are more important than adventurous moves.

Al-Jumhuriyah - Egypt

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Will the US be content with this step from a leadership of a country in which only recently huge oil reserves were discovered? Does the Libyan leadership believe that weapons of mass destruction in Iraq were the real reason for the invasion?

The US has always a store of excuses, the main one being democracy... Most probably, Libya has opened the door to US extortion. It has not learnt the most important lesson: Washington has an appetite that can never be satisfied.

Al-Hayyat Al-Jadidah - Palestinian

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The Libyan decision requires the United States to stop all the accusations being nourished by Israel against it, and, as a great country, to take on the responsibility of bringing about a comprehensive and just peace, so that the whole of the Middle East region, without exception, may be free of WMDs.

Al-Arab al-Alamiyah - London-based

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This is a very courageous step and a decision which will be welcomed by all supporters of peace who would like to see a green, peaceful and stable planet that is free from all forms of WMD.

Libya's announcement of its readiness to destroy its WMD is an important step in the process of strengthening security and stability in the Middle East. The Libyan move reflects the Arabs' willingness to destroy WMD, which are threatening the security of the people of the entire region.

Al-Ahram - Egypt

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The master of the White House appears jubilant. Two great gifts within days: Saddam in the coalition forces' hands, and the Libyan arsenal announcing its desire to retire. Tony Blair could not hide his happiness. He was tempted to clap.

The issue did not require the deployment of troops and fleets... Gaddafi revealed an astuteness that Saddam, the teacher of the art of brinkmanship, lacked. Gaddafi has turned a long and tumultuous page. What is considered a gift to Bush may indeed turn out to be a gift to the Libyans... It is as if the new Gaddafi is saying goodbye to the old Gaddafi.

Al-Hayat - London-based

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If Saddam led the 'mother of all battles', then Libya is competently leading the 'mother of all surprises'. After the fall of Baghdad ...Tripoli has chosen reconciliation with the US without any war or ado and through quiet diplomacy.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat - London-based

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Not many would think Gaddafi's declaration of putting an end to his impudent programmes will contribute vastly to world peace. But at least he can boast to the world that he is a peace-seeker, and even the US has welcomed this move.

Sharq - Iran

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BBC Monitoring, 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.