Libya to order 13-18 French Rafale jets-paper

PARIS, Jan 14 (Reuters) Libya wants to order between 13 and 18 Rafale fighter jets from France in a deal worth as much as 2.5 billion euros a French newspaper reported today.

The weekly Journal du Dimanche, citing a source close to the Libyan government, said Libya had taken the decision to order the aircraft over an offer from BAE Systems to modernise its ageing Russian MiGs as well as competing offers from China and Russia.

If confirmed, the deal would be the first foreign order for the 34 billion euro Rafale programme, which has been shortlisted several times but which is yet to find a foreign buyer, prompting French officials to seek improvements to its radar system.

In 2004, the European Union lifted an arms embargo against Libya imposed in 1986.

Libya emerged from international isolation from 2003 when it accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie airliner bombings over Scotland and announced it would abandon its nuclear weapons programme. Most US sanctions were lifted in 2004.

REUTERS SP HT1215