VIENNA, March 10: Libya took a fresh stride towards international rehabilitation on Wednesday by signing an agreement allowing the UN atomic watchdog to conduct snap inspections of nuclear facilities. "This is a step by Libya to be clean of all nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction," Scientific Research Minister Maatoug Mohammed Maatoug said after signing the accord with Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

ElBaradei told reporters: "Libya's decision could be, and should be, a first step towards an Africa and Middle East free from weapons of mass destruction and at peace."

Earlier, the IAEA's governing board passed a resolution praising Libya for dismantling its secret nuclear weapons programme. Under the additional protocol, IAEA inspectors can obtain short-notice access to any declared or undeclared sites where nuclear material may be present.

In recognition of Libya's efforts, the Bush administration announced last month it would allow United States oil firms to begin negotiating to resume operations, long banned under US sanctions. -Reuters