International Court of Justice moves on Lockerbie, Qatar - Bahrain disputes

The International Court of Justice has given Libya and the US until December 30 to file "counter-memorials" regarding the Lockerbie dispute. The "counter-memorials" will respond to Libya's original statement of facts pertaining to the case.

The court said that after the written proceedings are filed, it will set a date for hearings on the dispute, after which a final decision will be made.

The court also called for further written proceedings in a territorial dispute between Bahrain and Qatar. The court asked that a written response be submitted by Qatar by March 30, 1998 to Bahrain's claims that 81 documents submitted earlier by Qatar are inauthentic. Bahrain was asked to reply to Qatar’s interim report.

In 1991, Qatar filed a complaint at the ICJ regarding "sovereignty over the Hawar Islands, sovereign rights over the shoals of Dibal and Qit'at Jaradah, and the delimitation of the maritime areas."

The ICJ has already ruled on the nature of international communications between the two states as "international agreements creating rights and obligations for the Parties," and on its jurisdiction to hear the case.