UNITED NATIONS, Aug 16: Libya has formally taken responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am plane over Lockerbie, Scotland, and vowed to fight terrorism in a drive to convince the international community that the deadly midair blast was part of its past.

In a letter delivered to the Security Council on Friday, Tripoli said: “Libya, as a sovereign state, has facilitated the bringing to justice of the two suspects charged with the bombing of Pan Am flight and accepts responsibility for the actions of its officials.”

The United States and Britain in return submitted letters saying they were prepared to ask the UN Security Council to lift sanctions against Libya once the agreement was consummated. But the deal does not affect separate US sanctions on Libya including a ban on imports of Libyan crude oil to the United States.

Libyan Ambassador Ahmed Own in a three-page letter also said: “Tripoli is committed to be cooperative in the international fight against terrorism and pledge to refrain from becoming involved in any acts of terrorism.

“It is also committed to cooperate with efforts to bring those who are suspects to justice,” the letter said.

The letter was part of an agreement negotiated between the United States, Britain and Libya and intended to help Libya resume a full role in the international community 15 years after the jumbo jet was blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people.

Under the agreement between the three countries, Libya was required to accept responsibility for the attack, pay $2.7 billion compensation to the families of the victims, renounce terrorism and cooperate in any future investigations.

The letters were delivered by envoys from each of the three countries to Syrian UN Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe, the Security Council president for August.

“We expect Libya to adhere scrupulously to these commitments,” said the letter signed by US Ambassador John Negroponte and British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry.

“In light of the Libyan letter, and after the compensation has been deposited in a special account, the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America are prepared to allow the lifting of the sanctions,” a joint US-British letter said.