US agrees to have Libyans accused of Lockerbie bombing tried
Libya-USA, Politics, 8/24/1998

After much delay, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright formally announced the US acceptance of the proposal to have the Libyans accused in the 10 year old Pan Am 103 plane bombing incident over Lockerbie - Scotland tried in a neutral country under Scottish law, saying, "We have decided to go forward with the trial of the two suspects."

The US has indicated recently prior to this formal announcement that it will be changing its previous policy of insisting on having the accused Libyans tried in the US or Scotland. Some of the issues that were under discussion prior to today's announcement had dealt with the technical aspects of the trial such as the national origin of the judges. Albright today said the US and British acceptance is a "take it or leave it proposition... not subject to negotiation or change... nor should it be subject to additional foot-dragging or delay." Albright said that the trial will be held in the Hague - Netherlands "before Scottish judges applying Scottish law."

Albright said, "We note that Libya has repeatedly stated its readiness to deliver the suspects for trial by a Scottish court sitting in a third country." Despite reports that Libya would not accept Scottish judges on the court for fear of bias, Libya denied such reports only to indicate that it has not announced its position. Previously, indications were that Libya would accept such a condition if the Scottish judges were not exclusively presiding over the court.

Libya, along with the Arab League, the Organization of African Unity, the Organization of Islamic Conference and Non-Aligned Movement had recommended that this issue be resolved by a court in a neutral country (outside Scotland and the US) so that there can be a guarantee of objectivity in judging the accused Libyans.

"We now challenge Libya into turning promises into deeds," Albright said. "The suspects should be surrendered for trial promptly." She urged the organizations that have supported this approach "to ask Libya to end its ten years of evasion now."

Libya is currently under sanction by the UN as a result of the Lockerbie incident. The sanctions were mostly being observed, but the Organization of African Unity member countries passed a resolution that would in effect break the sanctions as of next month if the Lockerbie issue was not put before a neutral international body for resolution.

Previous Stories:
  Arab League: Remove Libyan sanctions until guilt is established   (8/11/1998)
  Libya awaits US and British position on Lockerbie   (8/10/1998)
  No Scottish judges in Lockerbie case is false, says Libya   (7/28/1998)

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