Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has apologised for the 1984 killing of a British policewoman outside the Libyan embassy in London.

Pc Yvonne Fletcher died after being hit by shots fired from the embassy during a demonstration against Gaddafi. The 25-year-old's killing led Britain to suspend ties between the two countries.

In an interview with Sky News, broadcast today, Colonel Gaddafi said: "She is not an enemy to us, and we are sorry all the time and [offer] our sympathy.

"She was on duty, she was there to protect the Libyan embassy, but this is the problem that should be solved - but who did it?"

The Foreign Office said in a statement: "Libya can help by allowing the UK police to return to Libya to complete their investigations."

Colonel Gaddafi said Britain and Libya had good economic relations, even when diplomatic ties had been broken.

He also spoke about the August release on compassionate grounds of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi.

Libya angered Britain and the US over the warm public reception it gave to al-Megrahi.

Colonel Gaddafi brushed off the issue, saying: "It is a matter of concern for the British, Scots, Americans. We are not really concerned about it."

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