Gaddafi urged UN chief to halt hunger strike

COLONEL Muammar Gaddafi urged the head of the United Nations to intervene and stop the hunger strike, state papers have revealed.

Comparing the deaths to ancient sacrifices and accusing Britain of lacking humanity, the Libyan dictator warned of a painful fallout if the IRA prisoners were not granted political status.

Gaddafi said the hunger strikes were a “very painful human tragedy, a tragedy that should have shocked the conscience of the entire world.