London intends to close Libya-Lockerbie file
Libya-UK, Politics, 7/24/1998

A source close to the British government in London said Thursday the British government intends to close the file of Lockerbie crisis between Libya on the one hand and both Britain and the US on the other.

The source, who declined to be identified, added that lengthy discussions had been carried out in the circles of the British governments to find alternatives for settling the disputes resulting from the persistence of both London and Washington to try the two Libyans alleged by the West to have been involved in exploding a US passenger plane over Lockerbie village in Scotland, in Scotland or in the US.

Also, the British Independent daily said that Britain and the US may ask Libya to hand over the two citizens to be tried in the Hague, Holland next week. The paper quoted a spokesman for the British Foreign Office as saying that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair held talks with US President Bill Clinton on the idea of trying the two Libyans in a neutral state. The spokesman added that the two countries are now studying the details pertaining to this issue.

The paper said the spokesman added that observers expect disputes to take place in the negotiations currently made between the UK, the US and Holland to reach a formula for the trial.

Meanwhile, The Arab League has welcomed the acceptance of the US and Britain of Arab thoughts and proposals on trying the Libyans suspected to be involved in the Lockerbie case according to the Scottish law in a neutral state.

The AL's assistant secretary general for political affairs Muhammad Zakarya Ismael said that accepting these proposals is a victory for the Arab side. He indicated that accepting these proposals does not mean that the crisis has been settled, rather that a lengthy dialogue is needed on measures permitting the transfer of the trial to Holland.

Ismael called for lifting the sanctions imposed on Libya until the dispute is settled. He noted that if the two suspects are handed over for trial, the pretext for sanctions on Libya are no longer valid legally.

Previous Stories:
  US confirms Libya-Lockerbie trial considerations   (7/22/1998)
  First step in lifting Libya sanctions   (7/21/1998)
  UN Council extends Libya sanctions   (7/3/1998)

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