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BEIRUT: Lebanon and Libya have signed a memorandum of understanding under which Libyan authorities have promised further cooperation to resolve the case of the missing Imam Musa Sadr, a source familiar with the issue said Tuesday, with Speaker Nabih Berri calling it a historic step.

The development, which happened out of the public eye last month, came after Lebanon and Sadrs family complained that Libyan authorities that came to power after Moammar Gadhafis fall in summer 2011 were not dealing with the matter seriously.

Under this memorandum of understanding, Lebanon now has the right to be represented during the investigation, said the source, a member of a committee Lebanons government formed in 2011 to follow up on Sadrs case.

Libyan authorities also promised full cooperation and to interrogate all [relevant] detainees they have, the source, who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, told The Daily Star.

A charismatic preacher who founded Lebanons Amal Movement and championed alleviating the socio-economic hardship and political marginalization being suffered by many Lebanese, Sadr went missing in Libya on Aug. 31, 1978, along with his two companions, Sheikh Mohammad Yaacoub and Journalist Abbas Badreddine.

Sadr was there on an official invitation by Gadhafi, and Lebanon held the late Libyan leader responsible for his disappearance, an accusation Tripoli consistently denied. The incident led to Lebanon and Libya severing ties.

In 2009, Lebanon indicted Gadhafi and 16 of his aides on charges of fomenting civil war and inciting sectarian tension in Lebanon.

The source said that Lebanons Ambassador to Libya Mohammad Skeini signed the agreement with Libyan authorities in March on the instructions of the Foreign Ministry.

The fall of Gadhafis regime in summer 2011 boosted hopes that the mystery would finally be solved, particularly after senior officials such as former head of Libyan intelligence Abdullah Sanusi and Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of the late Libyan leader, were detained by the new Libyan authorities.

However, pessimism surfaced again, with Sadrs family complaining that Tripoli was not demonstrating enough dedication and transparency in the case.

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Libya vows more action on Sadr case