Disarmament deal OK'd despite probe (Libya)

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Disarmament deal OK'd despite probe

By Kevin Johnson and Barbara Slavin, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — U.S. authorities knew that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi may have been plotting the assassination of the Saudi crown prince last year but continued disarmament discussions with Libya while the alleged plot was being investigated, government officials said Monday.

Authorities went ahead with the negotiations because of the importance attached to Libya's disarmament and the fact that the alleged attack on Crown Prince Abdullah had been exposed and no longer posed a threat, according to government officials. Those officials refused to speak publicly because of the sensitive diplomatic concerns arising from the case.

At the time of the disarmament talks, Gadhafi, long labeled a rogue by the U.S. government, had come out from under the shadow of Western criticism and was seen as winning the good graces of the Bush administration. President Bush often has cited Libya's decision to give up its weapons programs and terrorist links as proof that the invasion of Iraq has had far-reaching and positive results.

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-06-14-gadhafi_x.htm