Ghadaffi: new charm offensive

And we thought it was just going to be a display by 30 arab horses. But it seems some traditions are too good to miss, and Ghadaffi has once again hired 500 'hostesses' to hear the word of the Koran.

The great man said that all Europe should convert to Islam. Of course they tried this in the 15th century but without the same charm.

One paper says that three of the ladies converted on the spot.

Ghadaffi returns!

It was only in November last year that the great man was in Rome. You will remember that he ordered up 500 hookers and tried to convert them to Islam.

On Sunday he'll be back, this time bringing, as well as his tent, 30 thoroughbred horses. Colonel Francesco Ferace, of the 4th Regiment of horseriding carabinieri, has been in frantic discussions with the Libyan Embassy over their dietary requirements (no wine, I expect, Francesco, the Colonel will already have converted the horses to Islam). The horses will make a display to celebrate the second anniverasry of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Italy and Libya.

I suspect Ghadaffi comes here because the Italian love of ceremony coincides with his own; whatever, it's great theatre.