TRIPOLI, March 12: Libya has inaugurated a stock market with its headquarters in the capital, the official Jana news agency reported on Monday. It said a ceremony took place in Tripoli on Sunday evening as part of celebrations marking this year's 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Libyan Jamahiriyah.

Announcing the decision last June to set up a stock exchange, Economy and Trade Minister Tayeb Essafi said it "became necessary to establish cooperation with world markets, and to reinforce investors' confidence in the Libyan economy."

At the time he said the stock exchange would have its headquarters in Benghazi, 1,000 km east of the capital. Monday's report did not explain the change of venue.—AFP