Libya to get peace nuke technology

TRIPOLI, Libya, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency say it wants to help Libya change its nuclear capabilities from weapons to peaceful and development purposes.

In a unilateral initiative late last year, Libya announced that it was canceling all its programs for developing nuclear weapons.

Now, says IAEA Director General Mohammed el-Baradei, "The IAEA and Libya will be exploring the best ways for using nuclear programs for civilian objectives."

"Libya needs nuclear technology in such vital domains as water treatment, agriculture and medicine," al-Baradei said at a news conference in Tripoli Tuesday. He praised Tripoli's cooperation with the international agency in scrapping nuclear programs for the development of weapons of mass destruction.

Libya's Foreign Minister Abdel Rahman Shalqam told the news conference that his country was seeking to improve its relations with the international community, especially the United States and Britain.

He said many Western countries are willing to help Libya make the best use of its scientific potentials and capacities for achieving economic progress and development.

"We affirm to all that weapons of mass destruction do not necessarily secure strength and protection and we need to start the new millennium with a peaceful mentality and a world free of non-conventional weapons," Shalqam said.