WASHINGTON - Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has admitted trying to develop weapons of mass destruction but now plans to dismantle all such programs, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Friday.
Bush said Libya's decision - which would open the country to international weapons inspectors - would be "of great importance" in stopping weapons of mass destruction in a global fight against terrorism.
Britain and the United States have been talking about the issue with Libya for nine months, Blair said.
"Libya came to us in March following successful negotiations on Lockerbie to see if it could resolve its weapons of mass destruction issue in a similarly cooperative manner," Blair said in England.
At the White House, Bush said the war in Iraq and efforts to stop North Korea's nuclear program had sent a clear message to countries such as Libya that they must abandon weapons programs.
