DATE= 11/18/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-222860 TITLE=GERMANY / LIBYA TRIAL (L) BYLINE=KYLE KING DATELINE=BONN CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FIVE PEOPLE WENT ON TRIAL TUESDAY IN BERLIN, WHERE THEY ARE ACCUSED OF TAKING PART IN WHAT GERMAN PROSECUTORS CALL A LIBYAN-SPONSORED TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST U-S SERVICEMEN. V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: THE FIVE DEFENDANTS -- TWO PALESTINIANS, A LIBYAN AND TWO GERMANS -- ARE ON TRIAL FOR THEIR ALLEGED ROLE IN THE 1986 BOMBING OF THE "LA BELLE" DISCOTHEQUE IN WEST BERLIN. TWO AMERICAN (MALE) SOLDIERS AND A TURKISH WOMAN DIED IN THE BLAST, WHICH PROSECUTORS SAY WAS CARRIED OUT UNDER THE DIRECT ORDERS OF LIBYAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS. //OPT// AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK, PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN BLAMED LIBYA AND ORDERED RETALIATORY AIR STRIKES AGAINST TRIPOLI AND BENGHAZI. //END OPT// DURING THE BRIEF OPENING SESSION, THE JUDGE IN THE CASE SAID PROVING LIBYAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE ATTACK WILL MAKE IT ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL TRIALS IN RECENT BERLIN HISTORY. PROSECUTORS ARE EXPECTED TO USE EVIDENCE FROM FORMER COMMUNIST EAST GERMAN SECRET POLICE, WHO ALLEGEDLY WERE AWARE OF THE PLOT. ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS (EDS: MUSBAH ETER), A DIPLOMAT WHO WAS POSTED AT THE LIBYAN EMBASSY IN THE FORMER EAST BERLIN, IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY FOR THE PROSECUTION. PROSECUTORS SAY THE LIBYAN EMBASSY PAID ONE OF THE PALESTINIAN SUSPECTS (EDS: 38-YEAR-OLD YASSER SHRAYDI) TO PLAN THE ATTACK. THE OTHER PALESTINIAN DEFENDANT (EDS: ALI CHANAA) AND HIS GERMAN EX-WIFE (EDS: VERENA) ARE ACCUSED OF BUILDING AND PLANTING THE BOMB. THE WOMAN'S SISTER (EDS: ANDREA HAEUSSLER) IS CHARGED AS AN ACCOMPLICE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR THAT GERMAN PROSECUTORS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PROVE POLITICALLY SENSITIVE ALLEGATIONS OF STATE TERRORISM DURING A CRIMINAL TRIAL. IN APRIL, THE SAME COURT CONCLUDED THAT TOP IRANIAN LEADERS WERE BEHIND THE 1992 ASSASSINATION OF SEVERAL PROMINENT KURDISH DISSIDENTS IN BERLIN. (SIGNED) NEB/KBK/PCF/RRM 18-Nov-97 11:48 AM EST (1648 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America
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