UK to host Libya disarmament talks

Officials from Britain, the US and Libya are to meet in London on Friday, it has been confirmed.

The three countries are expected to discuss progress in the disarmament of the north African state's weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The Foreign Office said the meeting was part of "ongoing discussions on a wide range of bilateral issues".

The implementation of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's December 19 offer to dismantle his illicit arms programmes was "going well and making good progress", said a spokesman.

As part of the programme, Libya is reported to have handed over nuclear warhead blueprints to Western officials.

Tripoli reportedly admitted it bought the designs from an underground network linked to the founder of Pakistan's nuclear programme, Abdul Qadeer Khan.

The designs were handed over to Western officials as part of the process of WMD disarmament.

Nuclear experts examining equipment in Libya are also reported to have discovered centrifuge assemblies that appear to have been shipped directly from Pakistan.

The Chemical Weapons Convention came into force in Libya on Thursday, a month after Tripoli signed up to the international agreement.

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Symons welcomed the development: "Today, Libya becomes the 159th State party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Libya is putting into effect the commitment made by Col Gaddafi on December 19 to rid Libya of its illicit weapons programmes."

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