WASHINGTON Ñ A CIA report confirmed that Libya is once again developing both its missile program and unconventional weapons.
U.S. officials said Libya had revived its short- and medium-range
missile programs after the United Nations lifted sanctions in 1999. They
said Libya has acquired massive help from both Asian and European suppliers
in such areas as missile components and technology.
In its latest unclassified report released last week, the CIA said Libya
could complete development of a medium-range ballistic missile. Such a
missile, officials said, would have a range of up to 1,200 kilometers,
capable of striking southern Europe and Israel, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Libya is continuing its efforts to obtain ballistic missile-related
equipment, materials, technology, and expertise from foreign sources," the
CIA report, which covered Libyan activities during the first half of 2001,
said. "Outside assistance Ñ particularly Serbian, Indian, North Korean and
Chinese Ñ is critical to its ballistic missile development programs, and
the suspension of UN sanctions in 1999 has allowed Tripoli to expand its
procurement effort."
"LibyaÕs current capability probably remains limited to its Scud B
missiles," the report added. "But with continued foreign assistance it will
probably achieve an MRBM capability Ñ a long-desired goal Ñ or
extended-range Scud capability."
The report said Libya has also revived its nonconventional weapons
programs since 1999. This has included the import of dual-use components for
the production of chemical weapons and development of biological weapons.
U.S. officials said Libya is obtaining help from Russia in nuclear
research that could eventually be used in the development of weapons. They
said Moscow has offered to sell Tripoli a nuclear power reactor and help
develop a nuclear research center at Tajura.
"Should such civil-sector work come to fruition, Libya could gain
opportunities to pursue technologies that could be diverted for military
purposes," the CIA report said. "Following the suspension of UN sanctions,
Libya has negotiated Ñ and completed Ñ contracts with Russian firms for
conventional weapons, munitions, and upgrades and refurbishment for its
existing inventory of Soviet-era weapons."
