International   

U.S. to restore full relations with Libya

Ewen MacAskill

Washington: The United States said on Monday it is to restore full relations with Libya for the first time in more than 25 years, after having once branded its leader, Muammar Qadhafi as one of the world's most dangerous men and a supporter of international terrorism.

Washington also removed Libya from a State Department list of states sponsoring terrorism.

Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. Secretary of State, said: ``We will soon open an embassy in Tripoli. In addition, the United States intends to remove Libya from the list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. Libya will also be omitted from the annual certification of countries not co-operating fully with United States' anti-terrorism efforts."

The U.S. closed its embassy in Tripoli in 1980. Relations between Libya and the U.S. deteriorated sharply afterwards and Ronald Reagan, then U.S. President, ordered the bombing of Tripoli. That was followed by the bombing of the Pan-Am flight over Lockerbie in 1988 for which Libya was blamed.

Ms Rice said the decision to restore relations was the result of Col Qadhafi's decision in December 2003, to renounce terrorism and destroy long-range missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Five months earlier, Col Qadhafi accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and handed over two Libyan suspects who were put on trial.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

`Da Vinci Code' sparks worldwide ire
Uncertainty over Thai re-poll
Chirac involved in probe against Sarkozy: report
Nepal set to issue proclamation curtailing the King's powers
Musharraf talks tough on "charter of democracy"
Ruling party, Opposition neck and neck in Fiji poll
U.S. to restore full relations with Libya
Hyundai chief to face trial
Italian President sworn in
Jacob Zuma reinstated

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu