Tripoli calls onUS oil companies to return; Congressional delegation in Libya

A new delegation from the US Congress, most of its members are from the "intelligence committee" arrived in Libya yesterday on a one day visit at the invitation of the Libyan government. The delegation is due to meet with the Libyan leader.

The delegation met with the chairman of the people's general congress (Parliament), al-Zanati Muhammad al-Zanati.

The Libyan official news agency said that the foreign affairs secretary in the general people's congress considered the visit as "a serious step to strengthen relations between the two countries." He said "bilateral relations were exposed to numerous difficulties during the three past decades. A matter which had adverse effect on the level of cooperation relations and damaged the interests of the two peoples."

Meantime, news reports quoted the director of planning department at the Libyan national oil company, Tareq Hassan Bek, as saying that the company is planning to invite this Summer foreign oil companies to bid for oil exploration in five areas in the country.

Hassan Bek urged the American companies to take part in the bids, noting that Tripoli will not wait them for ever. He said " we can not stop the train for ever. We are talking to others."