US says no nuclear power cooperation on the cards with Libya

WASHINGTON: The United States insisted Tuesday that it had no plans to help Libya develop a nuclear power industry despite a decision in Tripoli to seek such assistance.

"There's no formal pending nuclear cooperation agreement with Libya on nuclear power plants or any other nuclear issues," said State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey.

Casey said nuclear cooperation with Libya since the two countries renewed diplomatic relations last year following a 25-year break was limited to medical uses of radio isotopes.

"We are in discussions with the Libyans regarding a project to help them develop a nuclear medicine center, and that is the only thing you could use the word 'nuclear' in relation to past agreements," he said.

The Libyan government announced on Monday that the foreign ministry had been authorized to enter into negotiations with the United States on assistance for construction of the country's first nuclear power station.

The state news agency had reported earlier that Washington had already offered to help Libya as part of the normalization of bilateral relations.

Casey denied the report.

"There's no discussion of this, there's no agreement being worked out and there are no plans to do so right now," he said.

"At a future date, we'd be open to discussions about this, but now is not the time that I think either of us deem appropriate for that," he said.

Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi opened the way for a renewal of relations with the United States and Britain in late 2003 by rejecting terrorism and renouncing all attempts to develop nuclear or other non-conventional arms.

Formal ties with the US were established in May 2006, but Washington has yet to name an ambassador to Tripoli amid ongoing disputes over a series of issues, including compensation payments to the relatives of Americans killed in terrorist attacks blamed on Libya.

Earlier this month, Kadhafi complained that Libya had not been adequately compensated for its decision to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

"Libya is disappointed because the promises given by America and Britain were not fulfilled," he said.