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Libyan fans get unruly at Pan Arab Games

Libyan fans were the butt of anger and criticism in Jordan today, after clashes at a Pan Arab Games football match in which Iraq beat Libya 3-1 to reach the final against Jordan.

Over 50 people, including several policemen, were injured last night after Libyan fans started rioting, prompting police to respond with tear gas at the Amman stadium.

Local outrage followed a scandal last week involving members of the Libyan football squad, who attacked their Palestinian opponents after a match which also saw fan clashes.

Television pictures from yesterday's match showed the Libyan fans assaulting policemen, while witnesses said that a photographer as well as bystanders were also attacked.

The Jordan Times daily quoted ''informed sources'' as saying the Libyans also destroyed facilities at a western Amman hotel where they were staying.

The paper also said the head of the Libyan delegation to the Games Sa'edi Eaddafi, son of Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi, had also ''joined the rioting and shoved a Jordanian policeman''. He was escorted from the stadium, but not arrested.

Libyan fans had also let off fireworks at the stadium, ripped seats and hurled the pieces onto the pitch, forcing the referee to halt the match to allow police to protect players.

The reaction of Jordanian fans was one of shock. ''I'm appalled at the behaviour of the Libyan fans,'' said a teenager who identified herself as Sara. ''It really is a shame that they should act that way, especially when everyone else has had such a sporting attitude throughout the Games.''

Tarek, a soccer fan, said: ''The Games were conducted in a very civilised manner and all fans had a healthy attitude towards victory and defeat - but the conduct of some Libyan fans was very disappointing.''

A supermarket owner, Mohammad, said: ''Their (Libyan fans) attitude was shameful. They are the only ones to really give a negative image of the Games,'' there had already been scandal the previous week after a Libya- Palestine football match, when Libyan players attacked their Palestinian counterparts in the locker room, threatening them with iron bars and guns allegedly taken from Sa'edi's bodyguards.

Twenty people, including three Palestinian players, were reported injured and hospitalised during those clashes.

Four Libyan aircraft brought in more than 1,000 Libyan fans to attend the tournament. Many more arrived via the services of local travel agents, press reports said.

UNI