Some diplomatic links were restored in 2004 and the US eased restrictions on travelling to Libya.

BBC: NEWS | Africa | A history of Libya's ties with the US

Apple's stylish iPod is the most popular digital player, with more than 4.5m sold in the last quarter of 2004 alone, and it links seamlessly with Apple's music-download service, iTunes, which sells more than 1m songs every day.

ECONOMIST: Not a dog, but a mobile phone

Ms Medina, a disreputable character who is also being investigated for alleged links to the ELN, another guerrilla group, had given a videotaped interview in 2004 in which she said that three of her followers were given government jobs in exchange for her vote on the re-election amendment.

ECONOMIST: Colombia