'US after boosting military ties with Libya'

(Press TV) -- A senior US official says Washington favors enhancing military cooperation with Tripoli speaking of an existing bilateral understanding on fighting alleged sources of terror.

On Sunday, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs, Jeffrey Feltman said "We want a strengthened cooperation in the military," AFP reported.

He claimed the two sides had envisioned collaboration aimed at securing the North Africa against potential terror attacks.

"Libya and the United States are aware of the danger posed by Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb."

In 1981, the White House severed the relations accusing Tripoli of fostering terrorism. Five years later and based on the allegations the US military pounded suspected 'terror cells' in Libya reportedly killing 40 people.

Last month, Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi likened the raids to the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York.

The country became a focus of the American homeland security precautions after the conviction of former Libyan intelligence officer, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, of a 1988 transatlantic bombing that killed 270.

Libya agreed to fully compensate the survivors and has partially paid the recompense.

Eleven Libyan nationals are currently held in the US Guantanamo prison facility in Cuba on terror claims.

Libya agreed to abandon what the West called proliferation of 'chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons' in 2003. Ever since, Washington has been hinting at expanding the ties while not dropping the terrorism label.