France may veto Libya sanction end

France will today veto a US resolution to lift more than a decade of sanctions against Libya if no agreement is reached on compensation for the families of the victims of an airliner bombing over the Niger desert.

Such a move would throw into disarray the €2.4bn Libya has agreed to pay to families of victims of the Lockerbie bombing.

Britain, which holds this month’s presidency of the UN Security Council, had hoped to get a vote lifting sanctions this afternoon.

Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin asked for a delay in the vote.

“If it comes to a vote, we will vote against,” said a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.

The US had indicated it would abstain.