Libya took another big step towards reintegrating itself into the international community last night after it signed a series of wide-ranging co-operation agreements with France in areas that included defence, health, education and civilian nuclear power.

The pacts were signed during Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to the North African country and came just one day after the French president vowed to help Libya return to the “concert of nations” as a reward for the release of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor.