U.S. Sanctions On Libya To Remain In Place

U.S. Sanctions On Libya To Remain In Place

McClellan said that the U.S. sanctions against Libya for the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jetliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, will remain in place because "there are still a number of serious concerns we have with regard to Libya."

Libya recently accepted responsibility for the bombing and has agreed to set up a $2.7 billion fund to compensate the families of the bombing's 270 victims, say reports.

"Libya has met the requirements of accepting responsibility for the Pan Am 103 bombing, and that was important that they accept that responsibility," said McClellan. "They have sent a letter to the United Nations to that effect."

McClellan said that he expects the United Nations to move forward soon on a resolution to end U.N. sanctions against Libya. The United States, he said, has already sent a letter saying that it is not opposed to lifting the U.N. sanctions.

"United States sanctions will remain in place because we still have a number of serious concerns when it comes to Libya, most notably, their continued pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their continued participation in regional conflicts in Africa that have been very destructive and unhelpful," said McClellan. "Libya continues to have a poor human rights record. So there are a number of concerns we still have."

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