Gaddafi smitten by ’darling’ Rice

After rebels ransack Moammer Gaddafi's lair they find photographs of former American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the tyrant's 'darling black African woman'

Gaddafi smitten by 'darling' Rice

After rebels ransack Moammer Gaddafi's lair they find photographs of former American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the tyrant's 'darling black African woman'

A bizarre photograph album filled page to page with pictures of former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been found at the compound of Colonel Gaddafi. As citizens ransacked the sprawling lair, for the first time discovering the extent of riches enjoyed by their bloodthirsty tyrant, a number of unusual items have been looted. Perhaps the most surprising, however, was the album, filled with glossy pictures of Rice.

I love you leezza: During US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's
visit in 2008 to Libya, he referred to her as Lezza and showered her with
a diamond locket.

Colonel Gaddafi had previously hinted at a serious admiration for Rice. In an interview with Al-Jazeera television in 2007, where he hinted that then-President George W Bush's top diplomat wielded considerable influence in the Arab world.

The book with photographs of his 'lady love'.

"I support my darling black African woman," he said at the time. "I admire and am very proud of the way she leans back and gives orders to the Arab leaders. ... Leezza, Leezza, Leezza. ... I love her very much. I admire her, and I'm proud of her, because she's a black woman of African origin." The following year, Gaddafi and Rice had an opportunity to meet when the secretary of state paid a historic visit to Libya.

Lavish gifts
During the visit, he presented Rice with a diamond ring, a lute, a locket with an engraved likeness of himself inside and an inscribed edition of The Green Book, a personal political manifesto that explains his 'Third Universal Theory for a new democratic society'.

Together, the haul was worth $2,12,000 (Rs 97 lakh). Three years later, at Gaddafi's compound, Libyan rebels found the photo book. Rebels leafed through the album yesterday after finding it as they rummaged through Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound. Rice did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the discovery of the photos.

Looters were shocked to find expensive murals and artwork hanging from the walls of his homes and rooms were filled with replica 14th century furniture. Vast bathrooms with bidets and sunken baths adjoined most sleeping quarters. Not far from a cluster of buildings used by Gaddafi's family as sleeping quarters was a cinema where he would join his family to watch the latest western movies. The most outlandish sight in this whole bizarre fantasyland was the fairground in the gardens.