Libya-US ties warming

Libya's ties with America are improving but some issues still block full normalisation despite the release of six foreign medics in a move long sought by the West, Muammar Gaddafi's influential son said yesterday. Saif al-Islam added that a deal with...

Libya's ties with America are improving but some issues still block full normalisation despite the release of six foreign medics in a move long sought by the West, Muammar Gaddafi's influential son said yesterday.

Saif al-Islam added that a deal with the EU for the medics'release cleared the way to full normalisation with the 25-nation bloc and provided for an easing of travel curbs and unfettered access to Europe for Libyan farm and fish exports.

"With the EU, yes I think we abolished the last obstacle in order to have a fully normal relationship," Mr Islam said, speaking on a visit to France. "With the Americans of course it's better, and it's getting better and better, but we still have issues."

Asked to name some of the problems, he said "La Belle" - a reference to a Berlin discotheque where three people were killed and 200 wounded in a 1986 bombing Washington blamed on Libya.

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