Rice on historic Libya visit

TRIPOLI (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Libya on Friday on the first such visit in more than half a century, marking a new chapter in Washington's reconciliation with the former enemy state.

Rice, who is due to meet the oil-rich nation's veteran leader Moamer Gaddafi, described her brief visit as historic and a sign the United States does not have permanent foes.

"Now that is not to say that everything has by any means been settled between the US and Libya. There is a long way to go," she told reporters travelling with her.

"But I do believe that it has demonstrated that the US doesn't have permanent enemies. It demonstrates that when countries are prepared to make strategic changes in direction the US is prepared to respond."

Diplomats said Rice wanted Iran and North Korea to take note that they could benefit from rapprochement with the West, highlighting Libya's commitment to abandon nuclear, biological and chemical weapons programmes.