President Bush Says Libya Agreed to Destroy All Its Weapons of Mass Destruction - 2003-12-20

President Bush, the President of the United States, says Libya has agreed to destroy all its chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons. The announcement, which comes unexpectedly, follows nine months of secret negotiations between the United States, Libya, and British officials. Mr. Bush states that this is a significant development that will bring greater security for the United States and the rest of the world. While U.S. government officials say there have been no discussions about lifting U.S. sanctions against Libya, the President has laid the groundwork for such an action. In Tripoli, the capital of Libya, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the leader of the country, stated that his country is now taking the initiative to urge African and Middle Eastern governments to abandon weapons of mass destruction. Gaddafi claims that Libya has taken on this role to ensure world peace and create a world free from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Although the U.S. President expressed satisfaction with Libya's position, he added that Libya's past remains a concern, and the U.S. and Britain will be vigilant to ensure that Libya follows through on its commitments. On the other hand, British Prime Minister Tony Blair also announced this news, stating, 'Nine months of work by American and British experts along with Libya have brought us to this point.' Mr. Blair described Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's decision as a historic and courageous one.