Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said today his country had been poorly recompensed for pledging to renounce nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and this offered little incentive to other countries to follow suit.
Libya pledged to abandon the weapons in December, ending its international isolation. Mr Gaddafi told French newspaper Le Figaro he was disappointed that the United States, Europe and Japan had not given Libya more security guarantees in return.
"If we are not recompensed, other countries will not follow our example and dismantle their programmes," Mr Gaddafi said on the eve of a two-day visit to Libya by French President Jacques Chirac. The interview is to be published in Le Figaro tomorrow.
"When we have spoken to North Korea, and Iran, which are suspected of having nuclear programmes, they said: 'But what recompense have you had? What have you received from the international community? So, why do you want us to dismantle our programme?'"
Mr Gaddafi, who has patched up relations with Europe and the United States after decades of hostility, said Libya should receive 'peaceful technology' in compensation for pledging to abandon military technology.
The European Union agreed in September to lift all sanctions on Libya - just days after Washington revoked a broad US trade embargo.