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Tripoli, Libya, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin met with Moammar Gadhafi Sunday inside the Libyan strongman's tent near Tripoli, the CBC reported.
Martin, in his first trip to Libya, is trying to help Canadian oil companies secure lucrative exploration deals coming up for tender next year. The two men smiled and shook hands before walking into the tent for a 90-minute meeting.
The prime minister was also likely to bring up human rights issues, but specific cases involving Canadians will be raised Monday by foreign minister Pierre Pettigrew.
Martin's Libyan trip follows visits with a number of senior European officials that began after Libya announced an abandonment of its weapons of mass destruction program, a desire to resolve its problems with the West and an opening of the nation to foreign investments.
Diplomats in the Canadian Embassy in Tripoli, which opened its mission in 2002, said Martin was leading an economic team of 130 businessmen, especially those in the oil, gas and communications industries.
They told United Press International the visit is primarily aimed at boosting political, economic and trade ties between the two nations, including striking joint investment deals in oil, energy, education and health.
Martin also reportedly wanted to talk with Gadhafi about the possibility of Canadian participation in supplying Libya with advanced technology and preparing Canadian firms to enter the Libyan market in different sectors.
The diplomats said they expected a number of trade deals to be finalized during the visit.
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