UNITED NATIONS — Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is chastising the United Nations for failing to intervene or prevent some 65 wars that have erupted around the world since the organization was founded in 1945.
Gadhafi spoke Wednesday at the opening session of the General Assembly, taking the podium after U.S. President Barack Obama's first speech to the world body.
The U.S. Mission was represented by a couple of low to mid-ranking diplomats, after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice left the chamber before Gadhafi ascended the podium.
Gadhafi welcomed Obama as the leader of the host nation for U.N. Headquarters, and hailed his maiden speech.
But he railed against the "inequality" of U.N. member states, quoting from a copy of the U.N. Charter that calls for equality of nations. He noted that five nations hold veto power on the Security Council and can block actions contrary to their interests: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.
Speaking rapid-fire Arabic, Gadhafi said the use of military power was contrary to the spirit of the U.N., unless such actions are sanctioned by the United Nations.
Since the world body was founded in 1945, Gadhafi said it had failed to prevent or intervene in dozens of wars around the world.
"But 65 aggressive wars took place without any collective action by the United Nations to prevent them, Gadhafi said.
The Libyan leader wore a shiny black pin in the shape of Africa pinned over his heart, on his brown and tan Bedouin robes.
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