Lockerbie victims' families want a solution
Libya-Regional-UK, Politics, 4/16/1998

At a joint press conference after the meeting between Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel Meguid and James Swire, spokesman for a group of faimilies of UK victims of the 1988 Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie Scotland, Abdel Meguid confirmed that the meeting was useful in delineating many principles, the most important of which is the importance of respecting Libya's dignity and appreciating the AL's position of accepting the use of Scottish law to address the case in a trial in a neutral country.

He stated that the delegation's visit to the Arab League proves their desire to cooperate to solve the problem. He said, "There are some steps that we will take according to the delegation's suggestions, and I will inform the Libyan side of the delegation's suggestions."

Swire said, "The Arab league has shown a deep concern with our same concern, which is achieving justice regarding this crisis, and we as a group of the victims' relatives are not concerned with policy but our concern is to reach justice through a fair trail."

He also said the AL had made many efforts to ease the impasse over the Lockerbie bombing, and said his group came to consultations concerning methods of breaking the current deadlock and to listen to Abdel Meguid.

The group also included Scottish law professor Robert Black, who suggested trying the suspects in a neutral country according to Scottish law and forming a judicial panel instead of a jury.

Recently, the International Court of Justice ruled that it has jurisdiction over hearing the case against Libya, and Libya in turn called on the UN to lift the sanctions based on that decision, until the International Court of Justice makes a final ruling about the guilt or innocence of Libya.

Previous Stories:
  Arab League secretary receives families of Lockerbie's victims   (4/15/1998)
  Egypt's Assembly head warns against double standards   (4/9/1998)
  Libyan sanctions come under review at UN Security Council   (3/21/1998)

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