<br />WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States has told Libya it has met all of its requirements for eliminating its programs on weapons of mass destruction, CNN has learned.<br /><br />Several administration officials told CNN that as a result, President Bush is expected to remove the remaining U.S. commercial sanctions against Libya in coming days.<br /><br />In December, Bush announced an agreement between the United States, Britain and Libya for Libya to give up its weapons of mass destruction programs in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions and better relations with the international community.<br /><br />Bush had promised that Libya's actions would be met with "good faith" by the United States.<br /><br />Since then, Libya has declared all of its nuclear and chemical weapons programs and embarked on a three-phase disarmament program in which the United States and Britain have removed the majority of WMD material, about 1,032 metric tons, from the country.<br /><br />"Libya has undertaken sufficient steps for us to have confidence they have fulfilled their strategic commitments," one senior official said. He called the Libyan move "historic."<br /><br />The lifting of remaining sanctions, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, will pave the way for reinstating direct air service between the United States and Libya and the unfreezing of nearly $1.2 billion in Libyan assets.<br /><br />
This should be big news!<br /><br /> http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/09/17/us.libya/index.html <br /><br />