Libya nuclear arsenal in US

2004-01-28 13:46

Washington - An American plane carrying components of Libya's nuclear weapons and missile programmes arrived on Tuesday in the United States as President Muammar Gaddafi follows through on a pledge to dismantle the programme.

The plane landed at McGhee Tyson airport outside Knoxville, Tennessee, carrying about 27 500kg of equipment, including stock to enrich uranium, centrifuge parts and guidance sets for long-range missiles, White House spokesperson Scott McClellan said.

The evaluated, probably will be evaluated at the Oak Ridge nuclear weapons plant. The "most sensitive documentation" associated with Libya's nuclear programme arrived by plane last week, McClellan said.

Also, the spokesperson announced Libya had begun destroying chemical munitions.

Gaddafi, trying to break out of diplomatic isolation and seeking a lifting of US economic sanctions, promised last December 19 to end development of nuclear and all other weapons of mass destruction.

"The world can see that Colonel Gaddafi is keeping his commitment," McClellan said.

However, the White House gave no indication it was ready to ease the US economic squeeze on Libya, nor did the State Department say Libya's designation as a supporter of terrorism would be cancelled.

"As they take these essential steps and demonstrate its seriousness, its good faith will be returned and Libya can regain a secure and respected place among the nations," McClellan said.

Only the beginning

He said the shipments were "only the beginning of the elimination of Libya's weapons."

Tom Lantos, the senior Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, met on Monday in Tripoli with Gaddafi for 90 minutes and reported the Libyan leader intended to follow through on his pledge.

Lantos, in an interview, said he would urge Henry Hyde, the committee chairperson, to join him in a bipartisan appeal to the Bush administration to show "good faith" in Gaddafi by ending a ban on travel to Libya.

Gaddafi's historic turnabout, promoted by Britain with US support, is being cited by the White House as a triumph in the campaign to halt the spread of nuclear technology.

After Gaddafi's pledge to abandon his quest for weapons of mass destruction, Secretary of State Colin Powell said "the next step is to make sure we have a clear understanding of what Libya possesses."

Powell said the administration intended to pursue aggressively reports that Libya obtained much of its nuclear technology from Pakistan.

"We know that there have been cases where individuals in Pakistan have worked in these areas," Powell said.

In the interim, administration officials gave no indication they were prepared to ease US sanctions that have hurt Libya's economy. In fact, Powell said last week he still considered Gaddafi a dictator.

- AP