The UN Security Council lifted the sanctions imposed on Libya for the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing.
The move also clears the way for initial Libyan payments of up to 10 million dollars per victim, or 2.7 billion dollars in total, to the families of the 270 people killed in the downing of US Pan Am flight 103.
The vote passed 13-0 with abstentions from the United States, which is keeping its own sanctions on Libya in place, and France, the AFP reported.
The deputy US ambassador, James Cunningham, said ending the sanctions "must not be misconstrued by Libya or by the world community as tacit US acceptance that the government of Libya has rehabilitated itself."
He said the regime of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi was "actively pursuing" weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, biological and chemical weapons.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that the end of the sanctions "marks a new and welcome chapter in Libya's relationship with the international community.
"Libya's decision to comply with these demands is the result of patient but firm diplomacy based on some clear points of principle. It demonstrates that terrorists will be brought to justice."
Libyan state television hailed the Council decision as a "victory." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
