Libya: the first celebration of the American national day after 20 years

A celebration was held yesterday in Libya on the US National day for the first day since 20 years despite the fact there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries.

At the invitation of the American- Libyan friendship society, the celebration on the US national day was attended by 500 persons of the American community in Libya, several remarkable Libyan officials and several foreign diplomats.

In a speech before the guests, the chairman of the society Adel al-Daemi called on the US President George W. Bush to lift the "embargo on Americans' travel to Libya." He also urged the two sides to "close the file of the past," because there is the possibility of a joint work to serve peace causes."

Worthy mentioning that Libya is on the American list of the terrorism-sponsoring states since 1979. There are no diplomatic relations between Washington and Tripoli since 1981. The US had also imposed economic sanctions on Tripoli in 1986 and relations between the two countries reached its lowest level after the US held Libya responsible for the blowing up of a Pan American plane over Lockerbie town in December 1988.