Direct flights resume between Rome and Tripoli

Direct flights between Rome and Tripoli resumedon Sunday after a 10-year hiatus, with Italy's foreign ministry citing a"concerted effort" to strengthen ties with its former colony Libya.   Italy's flag carrier ITA Airways on Sunday announced it had launched itsfirst commercial flight between Tripoli's Mitigaairport and Rome's Fiumicino,with flights scheduled for twice a week. Resumption of flights between the two countries after a decade "is part o fa constant and concerted effort by Italian institutions and the businesssystem, with the aim of strengthening ties with Libya, a strategic andprivileged partner for our country," wrote Italy's foreign ministry in astatement.