London: Libya bought plans to make a nuclear bomb from Pakistani scientists for "millions of Pounds", Saif al-Isalm Gadaffi, son of Libyan Chief Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, has admitted.

In an interview published in 'The Sunday Times' today (Jan 4, 2004), 32-year-old Saif said his country had spent $ 40 million on its quest to acquire nuclear capability.

Some of the "five-star Libyan scientists" working on the bomb had trained in Britain, he claimed.

He confirmed that Libya had bought nuclear components, including centrifuges, from a variety of black market dealers.

Some of the material came from Malaysia and various Asian countries, he said. Other components had been bought on the black market in South Africa.

"We dealt with an underground network of middle-men and secret work-shops," he said. "This piece from here, that piece from there."

According to the report, revelations of the extent of Pakistani involvement will certainly increase American and British pressure on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who is already accused of failing to prevent the illicit sale of nuclear material to Iran.

Pakistan admitted last week that "rogue scientists" might have peddled technology for "individual gain". It said several had been questioned, among them Abdul Qadeer Khan, regarded as the "father" of the country's nuclear bomb.