
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 17, 1990                   TAG: 9003172274
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Short

U.S. CONSIDERS LIBYAN FACTORY OUT OF BUSINESS

White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said Friday a suspected chemical weapons plant in Libya was most likely "out of business" as a result of this week's blaze.

"I don't think we can say for certain . . . but we do think some very extensive and serious damage has been done," Fitzwater said.

He said he would not speculate on whether sabotage caused the explosion and fire at the Rabta plant.

Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi has said his government is investigating to determine whether West German intelligence agents had anything to do with Wednesday's fire. Both Israel and West Germany have denied any responsibility, as has the United States.

Defense Secretary Dick Cheney said Friday he was inclined to attribute the fire "more to Libyan incompetence than anything else."

The Bush administration has said all along that the plant was producing poison gas; Libya insists it was making pharmaceuticals.

by CNB