Posted on 02/14/2003 8:51:20 AM PST by conservativecorner
The Libyan government is continuing to develop its missile programme in spite of concern expressed by the US and Britain, according to a senior Libyan source. Libya has Scuds that have a range of up to 350 kilometres (220 miles) and is seeking to extend this to 500 kilometres (310 miles).
Iraq is not allowed Scuds under the ceasefire agreement reached after the Gulf War in 1991 and is banned from having missiles with a range of more than 150 kilometres (95 miles).
Libya was once included on lists alongside Iraq, North Korea and Iran as a pariah state. Although relations with Britain have gradually improved, diplomatic ties with the US have not been restored.
Libya's sudden admission about its missile programme is part of a campaign by the Tripoli government aimed at avoiding being next in line for US attention after Iraq.
"We have nothing to hide," the source said, during an interview in London.
Although there is a European Union arms embargo against Libya and the US and Britain want it to sign up to a missile technology control regime, Libya insists it is entitled to develop a missile programme.
The US is regularly sending officials from the Pentagon, state department and the national security council for secret discussions in London with representatives of the Libyan government about its weapons programmes.
The discussions are on the sidelines of US-British-Libyan talks about the Lockerbie bombing. The last meeting was in December.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We have concerns about Libyan aspirations to sign up to the relevant international agreements on weapons of mass destruction."
The US and Britain do not claim to have evidence Libya has weapons of mass destruction, but they are concerned about the number of facilities capable of being used for civilian or military purposes. The Libyan source said Washington was increasingly putting a squeeze on the Tripoli government to disclose details of any chemical, biological, nuclear or missile programmes, and calling for their eradication.
"The US thinks we hide something and that we are looking to upgrade our ballistic missiles. We have the workshops to do this. We can't deny this. We test these. It would be foolish to deny this. We are entitled to develop and test these weapons."
The source added: "We have Scuds for 350 kilometres. They need maintenance or they will expire. We will try to develop these but it will not harm Europe or Israel."
The Foreign Office and US state department would not confirm talks between the US and Libya were taking place.
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