§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs (1) what official reports he has 352W received of British women being raped by Libyan soldiers following the coup in September last; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will give details of the representations made to the Libyan Government concerning injuries or other indignities inflicted on British subjects following the coup last September.
§ Mr. LuardWe have received reports of two British women being raped by Libyan soldiers following the coup last September. With one exception where the victim of the assault asked for no action to be taken, the Embassy protested to the Libyans about these and other incidents and sought assurances that the perpetrators would be brought to justice and that adequate measures would be taken to protect British subjects. The Libyan Government have now expressed their apologies to Her Majesty's Embassy in Libya for these incidents.
§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what advice was given by the British Embassy and consular officials to British nurses working at Tripoli Government hospitals about possible attacks on them by Libyan soldiers during the coup last September;
(2) what action was taken by the British Embassy in Libya to protect British subjects following the coup there last September; and with what result.
§ Mr. LuardAt the time of the coup in Libya in September last, a strict curfew was imposed and the telephones were cut. At our request the B.B.C. made repeated broadcasts warning British subjects that a strict curfew was in force and that they should stay in their homes until further notice. In these circumstances no special advice was given to the generality of British nurses working at the Tripoli Government Hospital about possible attacks by Libyan soldiers. But in the course of informal discussion with a small number of British women who sought his advice, the Consul warned them they might be faced with such an eventuality as Tripoli was full of young and undisciplined troops. The Consul mentioned the risks, e.g. death or serious injury, that could result in rape were resisted.
353WConsular officers and other staff of the British Embassy did all they could to ensure that British subjects were safe. They gave assistance to those in difficulty, often at considerable personal risk. The two women who were the principal victims, and the subject of recent Press reports, have written to express their appreciation of the advice given by Her Majesty's Consul, which they say was "the only sensible and practical advice in the circumstances".