September 1, 2004

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  Gaddafi 'Manipulating Idols Show'

  
  

  Sunday Times (Johannesburg)

  
  

  August 29, 2004
  Posted to the web August 30, 2004

  
  

  Johannesburg

  
  

  Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is being accused by Palestinians of unfairly trying to help a Libyan contestant win the Middle East' s answer to the TV talent show Idols.

  
  

  The two finalists of Super Star 2, the second of whom is a Palestinian, will learn their fate tonight when the result of a week's frenzied voting by telephone, SMS and e-mail throughout the Arab world is announced on the Lebanese-made television programme.

  
  

  Palestinians are enraged that Gaddafi has backed a costly nationwide publicity campaign and arranged that Libyans wanting to vote for Ayman Al-Atar, a Libyan dental student, could have free phone calls.

  
  

  Last week, rumours spread throughout the West Bank and Gaza that Gaddafi is in league with the Syrians, whose champion was eliminated earlier this month. Some Palestinians suspect that he plans further ruses to influence the outcome in the final hours.

  
  

   

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