Lockerbie lawyer: Sanctions on Libya are illegal

The secretary-general of the Arab League, Esmat Abdel Meguid received Ibrahim Al-Gwail, the lawyer of the two suspects in the Lockerbie case, who stated that Security Council resolution No 731 concerning the sanctions imposed against Libya are illegal.

He said article 363 states that if the Security Council is faced by a case concerning legal disputes - that it should send the parties to the International Court of Justice.

Second: countries with interests in the case have no right to vote in the council, while three such countries voted on the decision.

He emphasized that the resolutions were issued in contradiction to international law and the United Nations' charter.

The families of the US victims told Abdel Meguid that they want a fast trial.

Al-Gwail expressed his hope that the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the non-allied movement and the Organization for African Unity will search for a solution, as the Arab suggestion of a trial in a third country seems very reasonable.

He said his country wants to try the suspects in a third country although the International Court of Justice's judgment gives Libya the right to try the suspects.