WASHINGTON: President Regan denied Friday the United States had tried to kill Moammar Khadafy during the bombing of Libya, but a new wave of terrorism linked to the attack claimed an American life.
Hospital officials in Lebanon reported Friday an American taken hostage in Beirut was among three Westerners executed to avenge the American strike against Libya,
Officials of Great Britain said they had “firm evidence” of Libyan involvement in the kidnapping of the other two victims whose bodies were discovered along with that of the American, identified as Peter Kilbum Reagan administration officials said they wanted to examine that evidence before contemplating any further counter-terrorist moves, AAs for Khadafy, Reagan said as he left the White House: “We weren’t out to kill anybody.
The president was responding to reporters shouted questions about whether the administration hoped to kill the Libyan leader. The Washington Post quoted unidentified sources Friday as saying the raids were planned with that goal in mind.
Secretary of State George ShuItz and the Pentagons No. 2 official, Deputy Defense Secretary William H. Taft, did acknowledge the United States had hoped the strike might start an internal revolt against Khadafy.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 25, 1986
