THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Britain is attempting to target Col Muammar Gaddafi's wife with UN sanctions, fearing her multi-billion dollar fortune could be used to bolster her husband's rule and attacks on civilians.Mrs Gaddafi, who is known by her maiden name of Safia Farkash, the Libyan leader's wife of 40 years, was not named among the Gaddafi associates and family members who had their assets frozen and were banned from international travel under two UN resolutions in February and March.
Her personal fortune has been put by some of her many enemies at $30 billion (£18 billion), though estimating Gaddafi wealth is difficult due to the regime's failure to distinguish between private family and government money.
Miss Farkash is known to control Buraq Air, a private rival to the Libyan state, and is said to have amassed 20 tons of gold reserves, though she is less of a public figure than some other Arab leaders' wives.
The mother of his daughter and six of his seven sons, she became Col Gaddafi's second wife in 1971, after nursing him through a bout of appendicitis.
She was said by one of the several Ukrainian nurses who have attended him in recent years to be jealous of them, though despite popular rumour there is no evidence that they are his lovers.
The British government, together with France and Germany, has now requested that Miss Farkash be added to the sanctions blacklist, along with 23 other Libyans and several companies. » | Jon Swaine, New York | Tuesday, April 19, 2011
