|
October 31st, 2008
Posted: 05:05 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Libya has paid $1.5 billion to the families of terror victims, ending the remaining roadblock to full relations with the United States, the State Department said Friday. The payment ends Tripoli’s legal liability from U.S. terror cases and paves the way for increased U.S. involvement in the oil-rich nation. President Bush Friday signed an executive order restoring Libyan immunity from terror-related lawsuits and dismissing pending cases over compensation as part of a deal reached this summer. “The removes the last obstacle to a normal relationship between the United States and Libya,” said David Welch, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, who negotiated the agreement. He called Libya’s rehabilitation from a terrorist nation to a U.S. ally “historic.” |
New on the CNN Wire
|
|
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
|
|