UK `assured` Libya accepts responsibility for Lockerbie, Fletcher
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Feb 25, IRNA -- Prime Minister Tony Blair`s office said Wednesday that it had been privately assured by Libya that it stands by statements accepting responsibility for the Lockerbie air disaster and death of British policewoman Yvonne Fletcher. On Tuesday, Libya`s Prime Minister Shokri Ghanem told the BBC that there was no evidence of his country`s involvement in either case. He suggested that had "bought peace" by offering compensation to the victims of the 1989 air crash. His comments led to a call from Britain`s opposition Conservative Party for the Prime Minister not to visit Libya until the country accepts the blame. The US also suspended plans to lift travel restrictions to Libya. But at his daily press briefing on Wednesday, Blair`s official spokesman said that Britain had been assured through "diplomatic channels" from Foreign Minister Abdul Rahman Shalgam that Libya stood by its previous commitments. "We said yesterday we were seeking clarification and we have received an assurance from the Libyan foreign minister that Libya stands by all its previous commitments regarding Lockerbie and WPC Fletcher," he said. The spokesman said that what was important was that progress is made on issues such as weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and on Fletcher, who was shot dead outside the Libyan Embassy in 1985. "It`s important that we continue to see progress. How we continue to judge these things is through the progress we are making on the WMD issue and the WPC Fletcher case," he said. Blair is due to travel to Tripoli later this year to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi following his country`s decision to dismantle any WMD programs. HC/212 End
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