Lockerbie 'Understanding' Reached

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 13, 2003

Lockerbie 'Understanding' Reached

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Libya has agreed in principle to accept responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, United Nations diplomats said Tuesday. The long-sought deal could lead to the end of U.N. sanctions against Libya and payment of compensation to families of the 270 people killed.

Diplomats said the outlines of an agreement were reached during a meeting in London on Monday of Libyan, British and U.S. officials. However, "the practical steps that have been discussed need to be implemented. We need to see those steps taken," said a U.N. diplomat who requested anonymity. Similar deals have appeared virtually certain in recent months, only to fall through when Libya refused to take the specific actions called for.

U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said: "We're pleased with the progress that's been made. ... We think we're getting closer to a settlement." Another U.S. official, while stressing that no agreement had been formally signed, said he believed that a deal could be announced publicly as soon as Tuesday.

U.N. embargoes on arms sales and air travel, imposed on Libya after the mid-air bombing killed all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground, were suspended in 1999 after Libya turned over two suspects for trial. One suspect, Abdel Basset Ali Megrahi, was convicted in 2000 and is serving a life sentence at a high-security prison in Scotland. The other suspect was acquitted.

But to have the sanctions permanently lifted, U.N. Security Council resolutions require Libya to pay compensation to the victims' families, take responsibility for the attack, renounce terrorism and cooperate in further investigations.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was asked on TV this month whether Libya accepted responsibility and was prepared to pay compensation. He did not answer directly but said negotiators were nearing a conclusion.

U.N. diplomats said that before the Security Council considers any action, Libya must reach a deal with the Lockerbie families and finalize arrangements for an escrow account of $2.7 billion �� up to $10 million per victim �� that Libya has agreed to pay. The victims included 189 Americans.

Lawyers representing family members told their clients that the escrow agreement could be signed as soon as Tuesday, though U.N. diplomats said some technical issues may remain to be resolved.

Once financial arrangements are set, the deal calls for Libya to send the Security Council a statement accepting responsibility for the bombing. The council would then move to lift the sanctions.

A settlement would be in the interests of both the United States and Libya. Libya has been striving to remove its label as a terrorist state for two decades. For the Bush administration, an agreement would show other so-called rogue states that there can be rewards for rejecting terrorism.

Source: Agencies

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