WASHINGTON - The United States is planning to start political talks with senior Libyan officials in London on Friday, following Tripoli's decision to open its weapons program to international inspection, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Post Libya's cooperation meant it was justifiable to increase the level of engagement through "political openings and developments". US President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair had promised such developments after Tripoli agreed to let international inspectors supervise the dismantling of its weapons of mass destruction programs.
"We've seen a fascinating sign of change in Libyan attitudes," Powell told the newspaper in an interview.
The paper quoted US officials as saying Washington was also considering sending a State Department envoy to Tripoli to discuss diplomatic issues with senior Libyan officials.
Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi agreed in December, after nine months of secret talks with Britain and the United States, to end Tripoli's quest for unconventional weapons.
But the Pentagon was "resisting major reciprocal gestures in response to Tripoli's agreement to surrender its weapons of mass destruction", the Post said.
Pentagon policymakers were balking at steps other US officials had thought were in the offing. And they were opposed to taking Libya off the US list of "state sponsors of terrorism", which comes out annually in the spring, it said.
Hezbollah's right to defend Lebanon acknowledged