Gadhafi Son Plagiarized Thesis, Used Ghostwriter

The apparently not-so-august London School of Economics has admitted awarding a PhD in philosophy to one of Moammar Gadhafi's sons in 2008, even though he apparently plagiarized much of his dissertation. Saif al-Islam has been accused of using a ghostwriter to pen his paper, and lifting heavily from research and a report by the International Monetary Fund. Critics have found 16 plagiarized sections, reports the Independent—which notes Saif gave $2.2 million to the school in 2009.

London School of Economics director Howard Davies has already admitted that he's "embarrassed" about the institution's ties to Saif. The university "is aware that there are allegations of plagiarism concerning the PhD thesis of Saif Gaddafi," says a school statement. "The school takes all allegations of plagiarism very seriously and is looking into the matter." Students, who claim university officials haves known of the plagiarism for years, are demanding that Gadhafi be stripped of his degree. (More London stories.)