US extends state of emergency with Libya

US President Bill Clinton yesterday extended the nearly 13-year US state of emergency concerning Libya.

In a letter he sent to the US Congress, Clinton stated, "The Government of Libya has continued its actions and policies in support of terrorism, despite the calls by the United Nations Security Council" in resolutions to demonstrate that it has renounced terrorism.

"Such Libyan actions and policies pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and vital foreign policy interests of the United States," he said, noting that Libya has also refused to hand over the two Libyan suspects in the Lockerbie passenger jet bombing case, "even though the United States and United Kingdom accepted Libya's proposal to try the suspects in a Scottish court in a third country."

Clinton's letter concluded that, "For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to maintain in force the broad authorities necessary to apply economic pressure to the Government of Libya to reduce its ability to support international terrorism."

The national emergency was declared on January 7, 1986 and the US administration blocked Libyan assets in the US the next day. The state of emergency must be renewed each year to remain in effect.