Sudanese president congratulates Libya on lifting of sanctions

KHARTOUM, Sep 13, 2003 (dpa) — Sudanese President Omar Beshir on Saturday congratulated Libya on the lifting of U.N. sanctions, hailing it as a great victory, the state news agency SUNA reported.

Beshir, who spoke with Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi by phone, said he hoped the move would open the path to the lifting of sanctions imposed on other countries.

Sanctions were imposed on Libya by the security council in 1992 because of Libya’s involvment in the bombing of a Pan Am airliner over Scotland.

In August, the Libyan government admitted responsibility for bombing the airliner and agreed to compensate the victims’ families, prompting the decision to end sanctions.