U.S. Extends Travel Ban to Libya By One Year

W A S H I N G T O N, Nov. 24 -- The United States extended aban on U.S. passport holders traveling to Libya by one year onFriday in a move claimed as a victory by relatives of peoplekilled in the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing.

“The ban has been extended by one year,” a State Departmentofficial speaking on condition of anonymity said, adding that astatement would be released shortly.

U.S. passport holders have been barred from traveling toLibya since Washington broke off diplomatic relations withTripoli in 1981. The ban is reviewed annually.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had been expected toextend the ban by a shorter period in a nod to the view that itis outdated. Hundreds of Americans defy the restrictions towork in Libya’s oil industry.

Lifting the restriction while the trial continues of twoLibyans charged with the bombing of a U.S. jet over theScottish town of Lockerbie would have sparked a torrent ofcriticism.