Gadhafi Jr.: It's time for democracy

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Gadhafi Jr.: It's time for democracy
ROME, (UPI) -- Gadhafi Jr. Saif al-Islam, the son of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, said it is time for liberalism and democracy to take the place of "military regimes."

"The future is for managers -- people will elect managers and not have kings or great leaders. People should be free to elect their own leaders. The future is for democracy. There is no other way for Libya," Gadhafi, an architect and potential successor to his father, told The Sunday Times of London last week in Rome.

"I would like to make Libya the Vienna of North Africa," the reformist Gadhafi told the newspaper. The 38-year-old said luxury hotels are currently under construction and strict visa restrictions on Westerners will soon be lifted to promote tourism in the country his father has ruled with an iron fist for more than 40 years.

"We will create the right environment for tourism in Libya. If you have no drink, no visa, no hotels, nobody will come to Libya," Gadhafi said.

Gadhafi convinced his father to give up his nuclear-weapons ambitions in 2003 in exchange for international aid and engagement, most notably forging strong ties with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who continues to visit Libya frequently.

"We rely very heavily on British institutions to train our people, to run the local councils and municipalities ... It's very important. The British police for me are one of the most civilized police in the world. Police should respect the citizens, be polite, be civilized. I want to see the Libyan police like the British police," Gadhafi said.
 
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