Time to reflect on the trouble with Tripoli

As Libya celebrates the 40th anniversary of Colonel Muammer Qadafi’s coup after welcoming the Lockerbie bomber back home, some western leaders may be rethinking their commercial ties with the maverick Mediterranean state.

This week’s big party in Tripoli was attended by neither western heads of state nor the Libyan people, although it was ostensibly staged for the benefit of both.

World leaders snubbed invitations in irritation over the hero’s welcome accorded Abdelbasset al Megrahi, the former Libyan agent convicted of blowing the plane from the sky, after his release from prison in Scotland on compassionate grounds. Locals were kept away from the lavish parade and stageshow honouring Mr Qadafi because of security concerns.