Libya resent Arab position on Lockerbie issue, Africans ignore sanctions

Libya expressed its great resentment yesterday toward the resolution issued at the conclusion of the Arab foreign ministers meetings concerning the Lockerbie issue.

Libya described the resolution as contradictory and feeble compared to the one issued by the Organization of African Unity, to which some Arab League (AL) member states belong.

The Arab foreign ministers' council decided on Thursday to consider the international sanctions imposed on Libya as void when the Libyans accused in the Lockerbie case are presented for trial and the AL's abidance by this.

Moreover the resolution stated that the sanctions have to be suspended as long as they reach an agreement around the arrangements and guarantees for the trial.

The Libyan declarations came during the meeting of the Libyan secretary general of the people's committee for foreign communication and international cooperation, Omar El-Montaser, with the leaders of the diplomatic missions in Libya.

Meanwhile, Congolese President Laurent Kabila has become the latest African leader to break the UN air embargo against Libya.

Libyan television quoted Kabila as saying that his visit comes within the support of the Africans, referring to the Organization of African Unity's call for ignoring the air embargo imposed on Libya.

A few hours before the Security Council expressed its concern toward recent reports of news stating that the embargo is being ignored.

The flight ban is imposed on Libya for its refusal to extradite the two Libyans accused in Lockerbie incident.