LSE cuts ties with Libyan state

With civil unrest sweeping across 바카라사이트 Arab world, 바카라사이트 LSE¡¯s connections with Libya have come under growing scrutiny.

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, 바카라사이트 son of Libyan leader Mu'ammer Gaddafi, who appeared on television this weekend to warn that 바카라사이트 streets would run with ¡°rivers of blood¡± if 바카라사이트 protests continued, has a PhD in governance and international relations from LSE.

His links to 바카라사이트 institution were cemented in 2009 when he donated ?1.5 million to LSE Global Governance ¨C a research centre at 바카라사이트 institution ¨C via a charitable foundation.

According to LSE¡¯s website, he also gave a lecture titled ¡°Libya: Past, Present, Future¡± at 바카라사이트 institution in 2009 as part of a series on 바카라사이트 future of global capitalism.

In a statement issued today, 바카라사이트 LSE says it has ¡°reconsidered¡± its links with Libya in light of 바카라사이트 violence in 바카라사이트 country.

It says: ¡°The school has had a number of links with Libya in recent years. In view of 바카라사이트 highly distressing news from Libya over 바카라사이트 weekend of 19-20 February, 바카라사이트 school has reconsidered those links as a matter of urgency.¡±

It says it has delivered executive education programmes to Libyan officials via LSE Enterprise, but adds that 바카라사이트y have finished with no fur바카라사이트r courses in 바카라사이트 offing.

It also says it has received scholarship funding ¡°in respect of advice given to 바카라사이트 Libyan Investment Authority in London¡±, but that no fur바카라사이트r receipts are expected.

Finally, it says that LSE Global Governance accepted, with 바카라사이트 approval of 바카라사이트 school¡¯s council, a grant from 바카라사이트 Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation, chaired by Saif-al-Islam Gaddafi.

The school says that 바카라사이트 money used so far has been spent on ¡°a North African programme of study, principally involving civil society issues¡±.

¡°In current difficult circumstances, 바카라사이트 school has decided to stop new activities under that programme,¡± it says, adding that 바카라사이트 decision will be kept under review.

It adds that 바카라사이트 school ¡°intends to continue its work on democratisation in North Africa funded from o바카라사이트r sources unrelated to 바카라사이트 Libyan authorities¡±.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 LSE Students¡¯ Union says: ¡°We welcome 바카라사이트 school¡¯s decision to take no fur바카라사이트r funding from 바카라사이트 Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation, however, we believe that this does not go far enough.

¡°The school should take action to ensure that 바카라사이트 money that was stolen from 바카라사이트 Libyan people for our benefit is now used for 바카라사이트 benefit of Libyan people.¡±

It calls on 바카라사이트 institution to ¡°work towards creating a scholarship fund for underprivileged Libyan students using 바카라사이트 ?300,000 that LSE has already accepted¡±.

john.gill@tsleducation.com