Libya demands US compensation

2006-04-15 19:13

Tripoli - Libya marked the 20th anniversary of a United States bombing raid on Saturday, and renewed its demand that Washington apologise and pay compensation.

The raid killed 40 people, including Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi's 15-month-old adopted daughter, Hanna.

The official news agency Jana also repeated a call that relations between the two countries, now undergoing a gradual rapprochement after years of turmoil, be conducted on an equal footing and without violence.

Former US President Ronald Reagan ordered the 1986 overnight air strikes in response to a bombing of a West Berlin discotheque, used by US soldiers. Washington blamed the bombing on Libya.

Jana quoted a Libyan government statement: "The Libyan people renewed their call for an apology.

"The Libyan people reaffirm their right to compensation for the aggression from those who caused the killing of many women, children and elderly."

Libya still on US terrorism list

"The Libyan people also reaffirm their readiness to develop their relations with the American people far from the logic of force pursued by Reagan."

In March, the US said Libya would remain on its list of countries that sponsor terrorism, despite what US officials have described as Tripoli's help on security matters.

Presence on the terrorism list bars a country from getting US arms, controls sale of items with military and civilian applications, limits US aid and requires Washington to vote against loans from international financial institutions.

When Reagan died in 2004, Gaddafi said he regretted that the former president had never being tried for what he called his crime against Libyan children.

In 2004, Libya agreed to accept civil responsibility for the Berlin bombing and paid $35m compensation to more than 160 victims.

Despite the agreement, the north African country maintains it did not carry out the attack.

- Reuters