Security Council keeps Libyan sanctions

The United Nations Security Council said that sanctions against Libya will remain in place until Libya delivers the two suspects in the Lockerbie case over for trial in the Netherlands.

The Security Council called for the resolution of the issue through handing over the suspects "as soon as possible."

The plan to try the two suspects in the Netherlands under Scottish law, as presented by the United States and the United Kingdom, has been questioned on several counts by Libya, including over the venue where the two Libyans, if convicted, will serve their sentences.

The United Nations has been clarifying the proposal to the Libyans in areas of concern through the secretary-general's office, but the US insists that the proposal's terms are not up for negotiation and that the offer will only remain on the table for a limited time.

The current developments are also underway as the tenth anniversary of the incident, in which 270 persons were killed, approaches on December 21.

The current Security Council president, the United Kingdom's Jeremy Greenstock, characterized the recent developments in the case as "relatively positive."

"We heard a report from the Chairman of the Sanctions Committee on compliance with the sanctions regime and on exemptions, including efforts by the Sanctions Committee to ameliorate the position on Haj flights," Greenstock, stated.