EU ends sanctions against Libya and eases arms embargo

THE EU ended 11 years of sanctions against Libya and eased an arms embargo yesterday to reward the North African country for giving up plans to develop weapons of mass destruction.

"This is a turning point in relations with Libya," said French European Affairs Minister Claudie Haignere.

The UN sanctions were imposed in 1992 to force Tripoli to hand over two Libyans indicted for the 1988 bombing of an American airliner over the Scottish town of Lockerbie.