Libyan sanctions likely to be lifted today

The UN Security Council is expected to lift sanctions against Libya today - clearing the way for the €2.4bn Lockerbie deal pay out.

A partial agreement between Libya and relatives of the victims of a 1989 French airliner bombing cleared the way for the UN to lift 11-year-old sanctions against Moammar Gaddafi’s government.

The Security Council was scheduled to vote this afternoon on a British resolution that would lift the sanctions – a ban on arms sales and air links with Libya.

France has threatened to veto the move unless Libya increased its compensation payments the families of the 1989 crash victims.

The council imposed the sanctions in 1992 to force Libya to hand over two indicted men for trial FOR the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie.

Once they were turned over in April 1999, the council suspended the sanctions indefinitely – but Libya has pressed for the embargoes to be lifted to restore its standing in the international community.

After more than three weeks of delays, the French relatives yesterday announced a framework agreement with Libya that calls for a definitive settlement on increased compensation in a month, clearing the way to lift sanctions.

France sought a better deal for the UTA victims after Libya agreed last month to a €2.4bn compensation deal for the 270 Lockerbie victims.

France was embarrassed because it settled with Libya in 1999 for just €30m to be shared by families of the 170 people killed in the bombing of a UTA flight over the Niger desert in 1989.

The US will not block the lifting of sanctions today but the is expected to abstain rather than vote yes.