US, UK to announce acceptance of Lockerbie settlement Tuesday

The British daily the Guardian on Friday reported that UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook will announce on Tuesday Britain's decision to accept the trial of the two Libyans suspected to be involved in explosion of a US passenger plane over Lockerbie in Scotland in 1988, according to the Scottish law at The Hague in the Netherlands.

The paper said that Cook will make his announcement in a speech he will read before the UK House of Commons next Tuesday to put an end to ten years of conflict with Libya.

The report added that the British government is confident in the possibility of resolving technical issues with the Dutch government on the trial which arose because the proceedings are to be carried out according to the Scottish judicial system.

The report stated that a similar announcement will be made simultaneously by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Washington.