Libya has been "very forthcoming" in providing information about its nuclear weapons programme but the US will not consider lifting sanctions against it until it has a "good sense" the country has complied with its agreement to dismantle its weapons programmes, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday.

"The next step is to make sure we have a clear understanding of what Libya possesses, make sure it matches up with what we think they possess and what they tell us they possess," Powell said, adding, "They are very forthcoming to this point".

The US is assembling a team to examine Libya's programme and work with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to verify Libya's compliance with the agreement announced December 19 to abandon its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction and open the country to inspections, Powell said.

"When we get that under control and we have a good sense of all of that, then we'll start to examine the political and policy issues that relate to bringing Libya back into a different relationship with the United States and with the rest of the international community," Powell said.

The US imposed sanctions on Libya after accusing the government of Moamer Gaddafi of involvement the 1986 bombing of a Berlin disco that killed two US military personnel. President George W Bush renewed the sanctions Monday. – Sapa-DPA.