Libya, yesterday, urged the United States to unfreeze assets blocked in American banks since it imposed sanctions on the oil-rich country in the 1980s for suspected involvement in terrorism.

The United Nations Security Council lifted its sanctions against Libya earlier this month but France and the United States have their own penalties on the Tripoli government including a ban on Libyan oil imports. ?As part of completing the lifting of sanctions, we ask for lifting the sanctions imposed by the United States on Libyan assets in its banks,? Alojeli Abel Salam Breeni, Libya?s secretary for economy and finance, told the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Dubai.

The UN sanctions were lifted after Libya accepted blame for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, and agreed to pay $2.7 billion in compensation to victims. The US government says it still wants proof Libya is not seeking weapons of mass destruction and has distanced itself from international terrorism. Washington also has concerns about Libya?s human rights record, its lack of democracy and its involvement in Africa.

Breeni told the meeting that Tripoli condemned terrorism and was ready to work with the international community to ?fight this phenomenon?, which he said hampered peace and development.