Malta government officials this afternoon expressed optimism that a longstanding issue with Libya over oil exploration in waters disputed between the two countries would be decided by the autumn.

The issue was among subjects discussed by President Eddie Fenech Adami and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi today. Officials said afterwards that there was a commitment for political decisions to be taken on this issue. A joint commission is due to meet in October.

Malta has been seeking an agreement for joint exploration of those waters, on the lines of a similar agreement with Tunisia. In the 1980s a Libyan gunboat had stopped an Italian oil rig commissioned by Malta from drilling in the Medina Bank, one of the disputed areas. That issue was later decided by the International Court of Justice, but the ruling did not cover the delineation of other areas of the continental shelf between the two countries.

Other issues discussed included illegal immigration, including better coordination of rescues in the search and rescue areas of the two countries.

President Fenech Adami described his meeting with Colonel Gaddafi as cordial and fruitful.

The talks were held in a tent in Col Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli shortly after President Fenech Adami started a two-day official visit. The Maltese delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and Social Policy Minister John Dalli, also had meetings with the Libyan Prime Minister.

Other subjects discussed included the delineation of waters between the two countries for fishing purposes.