Qathafi expects near solution for compensations of Yuta victims

Libya's Leader of the Revolution Colonel Muammar al Qathafi considered in Tunis that the dispute with France over compensations for the victims of the Yuta plane is on its way to solution.

He explained in Tunis that relations with France are good, adding that Libya made what it ought to do, and the matter is now in the hands of the negotiators.

The French President Jacque Chirac announced earlier that negotiations between al-Qathafi foundation and families of the victims of the DC/10 plane of the French Yuta company were resumed.

He indicated that adverse impact might result if these negotiations fail and this will affect relations between the two countries. Coolness prevailed between France and Libya during the Tunis summit, as both the French and Libyan Presidents seemed as if each of them ignored the other during two days and exchanged no words, according to diplomats.

The same source added that the Libyan leader kept silence during the close- door session which was held on Saturday morning, while the European and Maghreb leaders took part in discussions.

The blowing up of the Yuta plane over a desert in Niger in 1989 resulted in killing 170 persons from 17 nationalities with 54 of them are French.