Qadhafi Invites U.S. Leaders to Libya

In a further sign of thawing relations, Libyan leader Col. Muammar Qadhafi has invited U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to visit the North African country, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 19).

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) was in Libya last week for talks on normalizing relations between the countries following Tripoli’s decision two years ago to renounce weapons of mass destruction.

“I conveyed to the Libyan leader the very best wishes of our president and he likewise conveyed and would like to have the visit of Secretary Rice and the visit of our president and I will convey those words back to George Bush,” Lugar said.

The United States is considering opening a full embassy in Tripoli, following the installation of a U.S. liaison office last year. Efforts are also ongoing to remove Libya from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, according to AP.

Lugar said he discussed terrorism, human rights and economic cooperation with Qadhafi (Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Aug. 21).

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