Tunis — During an official ceremony organized on Tuesday held at the main lecture hall of the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSAT), in Tunis, Libya's Leader Mouammar Kaddafi was given an Honorary Doctorate in Arabic and Islamic Civilisation from the University of November, 7 at Carthage.

In an address following the ceremony, the Libyan Leader voiced his recognition for the distinction, bestowed on him. He also expressed his satisfaction at President Ben Ali's decision to accept to be a candidate for the 2009 presidential elections, adding that on the basis of his record, " ¨President Ben Ali is the best qualified candidate to lead Tunisia".

The Libyan Leader also evoked several issues related to the Arab Islamic world , as well as the rapid changes witnessed in today's world.

The edification of African Union and in a further stage, that of the United States of Africa, was also evoked by Libya's Leader, who said that the union aims at setting up a vast economic gathering of nations capable of competing with other regional groupings.

On his part, the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology, Mr Lazhar Bououni, said that the granting of the Honorary Doctorate to the Leader Moammar Kaddafi, was a token of recognition of his initiatives in favour of peace, legality and justice, as well as his efforts to boost intercultural exchange, and the dialogue of civilizations.