London School Of Economics Director Resigns Over Libya Links

LSE awarded Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi son Saif al-Islam an honorary doctorate.

The director of the prestigious London School Of Economics And Political Science has resigned over the institution's links to the family of Libyan ruler Muammar Qaddafi.

In his resignation letter, Sir Howard Davies said he recognized the university's reputation has "suffered" as a result of its connections to Qaddafi.

He added that it had been a "mistake" for the school to accept a donation of nearly $2.5 million from a Qaddafi family organization -- of which nearly $500,000 has been received by the university so far.

The university's council has announced that it will conduct an independent investigation into the school's links with Qaddafi.

The school said it plans to probe Qaddafi's donation, as well as $50,000 that director Davies received from Tripoli for advising Libya on its wealth fund, and the "academic authenticity" of the doctorate that the school awarded to one of Qaddafi's sons, Saif al-Islam, in 2008.

compiled from agency reports