US to renew full ties with Libya

The US has not had normal relations with Libya since 1980, and blamed it for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

It lifted many economic sanctions and restored some ties in 2004 after Libya renounced weapons of mass destruction.

The US secretary of state said Libya had since shown a "continued commitment to its renunciation of terrorism".

LIBYA-US RELATIONS

• 1980: US ends diplomatic ties with Libya
• 1986: Libya blamed for killing US troops in Berlin disco bomb
• 1986: US jets bomb Libyan capital and military bases
• 1988: Pan Am jet explodes over Lockerbie; Libya blamed
• 1999: Libya hands over Lockerbie bomb suspects
• 2003: Libya says it will give up WMDs and long-range missiles
• 2006: US says it will restore full diplomatic ties with Libya

History of Libya's US ties

Full text: US statement

Announcing the move to renew diplomatic ties, Condoleezza Rice praised Libya for its "excellent co-operation" in the US-led war on terror.

Washington will upgrade its liaison office in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, to a full embassy.

Monday's decision was the result of successful diplomacy and came after a careful review of Libya's behaviour since 1993, a senior state department official said.

David Welch, US Assistant Secretary of State said it showed that when a state "adhered to international norms [it] will reap concrete benefits".

Tripoli hailed the move as "a significant step on the way to strengthening links" between the two countries.

Accepting Lockerbie

Correspondents say the move was a highly anticipated decision that Libya felt was long overdue.

US TERROR BLACKLIST

• Cuba
• Iran
• North Korea
• Sudan
• Syria

Tripoli's removal from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism will lift restrictions on foreign aid and arms exports, and is expected to boost economic activities between the two countries.

The announcement comes more than 25 years after diplomatic relations were severed following the 1979 sacking of the US embassy in Tripoli by protesters.

The US carried out air attacks on Libya in 1981 and 1986 and Tripoli was held responsible for the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people.

HAVE YOUR SAY
"It is right to renew ties for the same reasons as it was right to renew ties with Germany and Japan after the World Wars "
Tom McLaughlan, Western Isles, UK

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In 2003 Libya accepted legal responsibility for the attack and has since paid compensation to relatives of the victims.

It is also reported to have helped Western intelligence agencies with information about the Pakistan underground nuclear network.

In September 2004 President Bush ordered the end of many economic sanctions against Libya and allowed air flights between the two countries.

The restoration of full ties was delayed over concerns about Libya's human rights record, which the assistant secretary of state said must continue to improve.