Libyan prime minister visits Yvonne Fletcher murder site

Libyan prime minister Abdurrahim El-Keib today made a historic visit to the spot where policewoman Yvonne Fletcher was shot dead outside the country's London embassy in 1984.

Mr El-Keib visited the scene after it was announced a team of detectives from the Metropolitan Police would fly to Libya to continue their investigations into the unsolved murder.

The Libyan premier paused and bowed in front of the memorial to Wpc Fletcher and laid a wreath of white roses and carnations at the spot.

No-one has ever been brought to justice for the killing.

But Mr El-Keib said yesterday his country would "work very closely together" with the UK after talks with Prime Minister David Cameron.

Wpc Fletcher, who was 25, was shot dead as she policed an anti-Gaddafi demonstration outside the Libyan People's Bureau.

The bullets which killed her and injured 10 protesters came from inside the embassy.

Her death led to an 11-day siege of the building in St James's Square and the severing of diplomatic links between the UK and Libya.

Mr El-Keib worked with the opposition while in exile during Muammar Gaddafi's dictatorship and said he knew some of those involved in the demonstration.

He told Mr Cameron: "The Fletcher case is a case that is close to my heart personally.

"I had friends who were demonstrating that day next to the embassy.

"It is a sad story.

"It is very unfortunate that it has anything to do with the Libyan people.

"I am here to tell you that we will work very closely together to resolve anything related to that issue."

Visas for the Met detectives to travel to the war-torn country have been cleared but no exact date for their trip has been released yet.

After laying the floral tribute, Mr El-Keib gave a talk at nearby Chatham House, the independent policy institute, as part of his two-day visit.

PA