Gadhafi concludes Europe visit

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi ended his first trip to the West in 15 years by calling Wednesday for greater European involvement in "the tragedy in Iraq."\nGadhafi, once an international pariah over his support for terrorist groups, came to Brussels to discuss business deals and offer an olive branch to European governments that once shunned him.\nBut a little of the old Gadhafi emerged when he threatened Tuesday to return to the "days of explosive belts" if provoked by Western "evil."\nGadhafi spoke Wednesday with Belgian business leaders and a group of lawmakers at the Belgian Parliament.\nIn a 45-minute discourse about democracy and the Middle East, Gadhafi was long on analyses of the region's problems but short with solutions.\nHe argued against a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and said Europe "should not be on the sidelines" of the peace process.\n"It's important that Europe raises its voice about the tragedy in Iraq," he added, without elaborating.\nHe did, however, say the U.S.-led coalition's invasion of Iraq, despite massive opposition in many countries, was evidence of the failings of Western-style democracy.\n"The American people and the English people were against the aggression in Iraq," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "So in that case, the representation was false."\nThen, in English, he added, "Representation is falsification."\nGadhafi has held absolute power in Libya since a bloodless coup in 1969. Amnesty International accused his regime Tuesday of committing human rights abuses and fostering a "climate of fear" in which most Libyans are afraid to speak out.\nThe same day, the one-time pariah swept into European Union headquarters like a movie star. Wearing brown Bedouin robes and flanked by female bodyguards in blue camouflage, Gadhafi gave a clenched fist salute to about 200 supporters outside the building. Across the street, protesters shouted "Gadhafi, murderer!"\nAs Gadhafi strolled through the lobby of the building, a man dressed as a plainclothes policeman slipped alongside the Libyan leader and tried to hand Gadhafi a letter.\nGadhafi ignored the brief chaos that ensued and continued shaking hands with European Commission President Romano Prodi as cameras flashed and the unidentified man was hustled out of the building.\nEU spokesman Reijo Kemppinen blamed the security lapse on Belgian officials, saying Wednesday they were responsible for security measures.\nA Belgian Foreign Ministry spokesman said a "number of agents" accompany visiting dignitaries, including Gadhafi, at all times. But he said access to European Commission buildings and security inside is "exclusively the competence of the commission itself."\nNo charges were filed against the man. "He only came what was considered too close for comfort," the spokesman said.