Bonn Orders 2 Libyan Envoys Out of Country

BONN —  West Germany today ordered two Libyan diplomats to leave the country, but officials insisted that the move was not directly connected to “indications” of Libyan involvement in the bombing of a West Berlin nightclub.

A U.S. Army sergeant and a Turkish woman died in the blast Saturday at the La Belle discotheque and 230 people were injured, including 63 Americans. U.S. officials have indicated that they believe Libya was behind it.

West German government spokesman Friedhelm Ost said Interior Minister Friedrich Zimmerman told the Cabinet that “certain indications point to an involvement by Libya. There are indications but no solid proof.”

Ost told reporters that the decision to expel the Libyans was made after police began investigating the Saturday bombing but was not directly connected to the bombing. He said they had been under surveillance for some time.

Ost refused to specify why they were being expelled, saying only that their activities violated norms of diplomatic behavior.

‘Urgently Necessary’

“The security interest of the Federal Republic of (West) Germany and the protection of persons and installations of our allies, especially our American friends, make it urgently necessary to end these activities,” he said.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesman Juergen Chrobog said the two were ordered to leave based on evidence emerging from the investigation into the bombing. He would not elaborate.

Ost said the diplomats were of “middle rank” but refused to release their names.

(Counterintelligence sources said the two Libyans were known as officers of the Libyan intelligence service and were responsible for counteracting Libyan opponents of the Tripoli government in West Germany.)

U.S. Embassy spokesman Robert Heath said, “We welcome these steps and are continuing our intense consultations (with West German officials) to see that all steps are taken to insure the full protection and security of American personnel in installations in the Federal Republic.”