AL welcomes Libya's stand toward Lockerbie

During the recently-held people's meeting held in Benghazi, Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi welcomed the Saudi - South African mediation effort in the Lockerbie crisis.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said he expects a reply soon from the Libyan leader to a message Annan sent, hoping that this reply will be positive.

Annan said: "As I indicated last week, we have provided Libya with all the answers, clarifications and explanations that they have sought, and we are now waiting for a decision to be able to move on with a trial." Annan described Gaddafi's recent statements as "encouraging." He said he met on Monday with the Libyan ambassador to the UN to ask the ambassador for the Libyan reply to clarifications Annan sent to Libya in February.

In Cairo, the Arab League on Wednesday welcomed the position announced by Gaddafi. The AL's assistant secretary general for political affairs, Muhammad Zakaraya Ismael, who is responsible for the Lockerbie file, said the AL general secretariat is following up closely developments in the Lockerbie incident.

The AL expressed support for the Libyan stand advocated by Gaddafi in his speech in Benghazi, hoping that this issue will be sorted out in a way meeting the hopes of the Libyan people.