Gadhafi's son praises Libya-U.S. relations

Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, the eldest son -- and heir apparent -- of Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi, said he'd like to see "shock treatment" democratization in his country, while his father wants a slower pace. The younger Gadhafi has been credited for steering his father toward a path of normalized relations between Libya and the United States after years of tension and conflict. In this decade, Libya has renounced weapons of mass destruction and cooperated on intelligence matters with the United States. The Libyan leader's son met Thursday in Washington with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He described his talk with her as a courtesy visit and not a formal meeting. The two discussed Russia, Georgia, piracy in Somalia and other global issues. Rice was "a smart lady with great knowledge," he said. The visit with Rice and a phone call this week between U.S. President George W. Bush and his father, who has ruled Libya since 1969, signify "a celebration and a turning of the page," Gadhafi said.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/21/libya.us/index.html?eref=rss_topstories