WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- The United States will reportedly remove Libya from the list of state sponsors of terrorism after diplomatic ties between the two nations are upgraded.
Libyan Foreign Minister Abdul Rahman Shalgam told reporters in Tripoli the United States and Libya have reached an understanding concerning the matter.
Relations between the United States and Libya have improved rapidly since February, when Libya abandoned its weapons of mass destruction and allowed U.S. and British experts to visit the weapon sites.
President George W. Bush Friday eased economic sanctions on Libya, allowing U.S. oil companies to do business with the Arab nation.
Media reports Sunday indicated Libya has already signed a deal with an American oil company for the first since 1986. The agreement is said to be for the shipment of two million barrels of oil to the United States. The reports did not identify the U.S. company involved in the contract.
The United States broke its diplomatic ties with Libya in February 1980 and in May 1981 also ordered Libya to close its embassy in Washington. But the U.S. State Department announced last week it will soon open a liaison office in Libya.
