Libya is ready to restore diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia that were severed after Riyadh accused Tripoli of a plot to assassinate King Abdullah, then crown prince of the oil-rich kingdom.
”Libya has informed the Arab League that it is ready to order the return of its ambassador to Riyadh, to receive a Saudi ambassador in Tripoli and re-establish normal diplomatic relations between the two countries,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hasuna Shawsh said.
Last month, five Libyans — including intelligence officers who had been detained in Saudi Arabia over the alleged plot — were pardoned by Abdullah shortly after he became monarch on the death of his half-brother King Fahd.
Details of the purported conspiracy came to light last year when an American Muslim activist pleaded guilty to illegal financial dealings with Libya and testified he had been involved in a Libyan plan to murder the prince in 2003.
Libya has denied involvement in any conspiracy to kill Abdullah.
Although ties have been severed since December 2004, Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi declared three days of mourning after the death of King Fahd on August 1 and sent an envoy to express his country’s condolences to Abdullah.
A week later, King Abdullah ordered the release of the five Libyans.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whose country has good ties with both Riyadh and Tripoli, mediated to try to ensure the Libyan suspects were not put on trial and then to reconcile the two states. — Sapa-AFP