DATE= 10/30/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-221966 TITLE=ANNAN / LOCKERBIE (S-ONLY) BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS HE PLANS TO ACCEPT A BRITISH INVITATION TO SEND TWO REPRESENTATIVES TO SCOTLAND TO PREPARE FOR A POSSIBLE TRIAL OF LIBYAN SUSPECTS IN THE 1988 BOMBING OF AN AMERICAN AIRLINER OVER LOCKERBIE. SIMILAR INVITATIONS WERE SENT TO THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY AND THE ARAB LEAGUE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS. TEXT: THE U-N REPRESENTATIVES WOULD VISIT SCOTTISH PRISONS AND COURT FACILITIES AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS TO ATTEND THE TRIAL. BRITAIN EXTENDED THE INVITATIONS BECAUSE LIBYA HAD INSINUATED THAT ITS NATIONALS COULD NOT GET A FAIR TRIAL IN SCOTLAND. BRITAIN CALLED THE CHARGE LUDICROUS AND CHALLENGED THE SKEPTICS TO COME AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES HOW BRITISH JUSTICE WORKS. THE EXERCISE MAY PROVE FUTILE. THE ARAB LEAGUE HAS TURNED DOWN THE OFFER, SAYING THERE WOULD BE NO POINT TO IT. THE LEAGUE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT LIBYA'S PROPOSAL TO HOLD THE TRIAL IN WHAT IT WOULD CONSIDER A NEUTRAL COUNTRY. BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES -- SUPPORTED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL -- HAVE DEMANDED THE BOMBING SUSPECTS BE PROSECUTED IN EITHER AN AMERICAN OR BRITISH COURT. (SIGNED) NEB/EJ/RRM 30-Oct-97 5:04 PM EST (2204 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America
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