The United States will not lift its sanctions against Libya any time soon even if Tripoli takes responsibility for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing (news – web sites) and escapes U.N. sanctions, U.S. officials and analysts said on Wednesday. The officials said Libya would have to take a series of actions — notably persuading the U.S. government it has ceased support for terrorism and is not pursuing weapons of mass destruction — for the U.S. penalties to be fully removed. Diplomats said Libya has agreed in principle to pay $2.7 billion in compensation for the 270 victims of the mid-air bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland and to formally accept responsibility. If it does so this week as expected, U.N. sanctions imposed on Libya in 1992 and suspended in 1999 after Tripoli turned over two Libyan suspects for trial could be permanently lifted, perhaps next week. But the diplomats stressed that they have been close to a deal in the past only to see it slip away. Full Story
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