British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that Libya could become the new Dubai – if only it cleared the corpses, which is the latest in a series of gaffes by the British politician.
Johnson, who has offended some of Britain’s allies with inappropriate comments, told the Conservative Party that the Libyan city of Sirte could become the new Dubai with British investments – if it clears the corpses.
“They have a brilliant vision to transform Sirte, with the help of local authorities, into the next Dubai,” Johnson said. “All they have to do is remove the dead bodies and we will get there.”
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Some activists from Prime Minister Theresa May’s party laughed at those words before the chairman of the meeting changed the subject with the words: “Next question.”
Britain and France led the attacks that ousted Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country has since plunged into chaos with thousands dead.
The Islamic State captured Sirte in early 2015, turning it into its most significant stronghold outside the Middle East and attracting numerous foreign fighters to the city. Sirte was later cleared of militants.
The British ambassador to Myanmar had to interrupt Johnson this year while he was attempting to recite a nostalgic colonial poem by Rudyard Kipling during a visit to one of the country’s most famous Buddhist landmarks.
