U.S., British officials to discuss Libya
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-26 16:22

Senior U.S. and British officials met in London Thursday to discuss Libya and its policies on terrorism and human rights, as the United States prepares to re-establish full diplomatic ties with the once-outcast state, AP reported.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said David Welch, head of the department's Near East bureau, held talks in London as part of ongoing discussions.

The talks focused on "Libya's policies on terrorism, human rights, and ways to strengthen our cooperation on the outstanding issues we have between us as we develop a different kind of relationship with Libya," McCormack told reporters in Washington.

Britain's Foreign Office had no information on the talks.

In March, the U.S. administration notified Congress that it planned to establish full diplomatic relations, including an embassy, in Libya by the end of the year, and diplomatic moves have recently gained momentum. The Bush administration suggested this week that Libya could expect long-sought diplomatic recognition from the United States if it cleaned up its record on human rights and terrorism.

Britain has taken the diplomatic lead in ending Libya's international isolation.

London broke off diplomatic relations with Tripoli in 1984 after British policewoman Yvonne Fletcher was killed by a shot fired from a window of the Libyan embassy in London. The two countries restored diplomatic ties in 1999 after Libya accepted responsibility for Fletcher's shooting, apologized and agreed to pay her family compensation.

Libya's rehabilitation gained pace in late 2003, when leader Moammar Gadhafi announced the country was abandoning plans to acquire nuclear weapons.

Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Tripoli in March 2004. The same year, Washington lifted a long-standing ban on travel to the country.

However, Libya is still on Washington's list of states that sponsor terrorism.

"We've come quite a ways and have a different relationship with Libya than we had three, four years ago. But there are still issues that need to be resolved, and we're working on those issues," McCormack said Thursday.

"There are still outstanding issues regarding human rights, terrorism, democratization that we're talking to them about," he added.

Close

Japanese PM launches general election campaign Katrina slams US Gulf Coast, oil rigs adrift Japan's 6 parties square off in TV debate

Today's Top News     Top World News
President Hu Jintao: Gender equality crucial         Special grants offered to poor students         EU takes steps to unblock China textiles         Farmers sue county for illegal land use         Search for 123 trapped miners suspended         Hurricane Katrina rocks New Orleans	Bush promises post-storm help for victims       Sharon: Not all settlements in final deal       Hurricane Katrina rocks New Orleans       Sri Lanka PM focuses on ending civil war       Musharraf warns Pakistan Islamic schools       Katrina may cost insurers $25 bln