Libyan nuclear parts sent to US

Gaddafi has been seeking to get US sanctions lifted

Components of Libya's nuclear weapons programme have been flown to the United States, the White House has announced.

The move shows "real progress" towards Tripoli's disarmament, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

He said materials including uranium hexafluoride and centrifuge parts had been flown to Knoxville, Tennessee, on a US transport plane on Monday.

A US-Libyan thaw has begun since Colonel Muammar Gaddafi decided to scrap weapons of mass destruction.

In recent months US and British teams have visited sites related to Libya's nuclear programme.

'More to do'

A total of about 25 tons (55,000 pounds) of equipment and documents were flown to the US, Mr McClellan told reporters.

these shipments are only the beginning of the elimination of Libya's weapons Scott McClellan White House Spokesman

He said the material had been taken to a "secure facility" in Tennessee for evaluation.

On 19 December Colonel Gaddafi made the surprise admission that Libya had been seeking weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

At the same time, he announced that his government was dismantling such weapons and opening its facilities to international inspection.

"While these shipments are only the beginning of the elimination of Libya's weapons, these shipments as well as the close cooperation on the ground in Libya reflect real progress in Libya meeting its commitments," Mr McClellan said.

He added that Colonel Gaddafi's good faith would be returned.

However, the White House spokesman said it was too early to discuss the lifting of US sanctions on Libya because there was "more to do".