DATE=4/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247639
TITLE=LIBYA / LOCKERBIE HANDOVER (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO LIBYAN SUSPECTS WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
LOCKERBIE BOMBING CASE HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO U-N OFFICIALS AND
WILL FACE TRIAL IN THE NETHERLANDS. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB
REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU.
TEXT: THE TWO SUSPECTS, ABDEL BASSET ALI AL-MEGRAHI AND LAMIN
KHALIFA FAHIMA, SURRENDERED TO SENIOR U-N OFFICIALS AT A CEREMONY
ATTENDED BY DELEGATES FROM SOUTH AFRICA, SAUDI ARABIA, EGYPT, AND
THE ARAB LEAGUE.
// AL-MEGRAHI ACT - IN ARABIC - FADE UNDER ///
APPEARING ON LIBYAN TELEVISION MONITORED IN CAIRO, MR. AL-MEGRAHI
SAID THEY WERE LEAVING OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL BECAUSE THEY ARE
CONFIDENT OF THEIR INNOCENCE. HE SAID HE HOPES THAT AFTER THEY
HAVE PROVEN THEIR INNOCENCE, THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME
TO THEIR FAMILIES.
LIBYAN FOREIGN MINISTER OMAR AL-MONTASSER SAID LIBYA WAS
CONFIDENT IN THE FAIRNESS OF ITS CASE AND THE INNOCENCE OF THE
SUSPECTS. HE SAID HE HOPES THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
APPRECIATES WHAT HE CALLED THE CIVILIZED POSITION LIBYA HAS
TAKEN.
THE TWO SUSPECTS ARE ACCUSED OF PLANTING THE BOMB THAT EXPLODED
IN AN AMERICAN JUMBO JET 10-YEARS AGO, KILLING 270 PEOPLE. THEY
WERE INDICTED IN 1991. BUT LIBYA REFUSED TO HAND THEM OVER,
SAYING IT FEARED THEY WOULD NOT RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL IN BRITAIN
OR THE UNITED STATES, WHICH HAVE JURISDICTION.
AS A RESULT, SANCTIONS, INCLUDING A BAN ON LIBYAN AIR TRAVEL AND
INVESTMENT IN LIBYA'S OIL SECTOR, WERE IMPOSED BEGINNING THE
FOLLOWING YEAR.
THE VARIOUS PARTIES AGREED LAST AUGUST TO ALLOW THE SUSPECTS TO
BE TRIED IN THE NETHERLANDS, A NEUTRAL COUNTRY, USING SCOTTISH
JUDGES. BUT THE HANDOVER WAS DELAYED AS LIBYA SOUGHT FURTHER
ASSURANCES.
THE HANDOVER WAS ANNOUNCED TWO-WEEKS AGO FOLLOWING A MEDIATION
EFFORT BY SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AND SAUDI CROWN
PRINCE ABDULLAH.
/// REST OPT ///
UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE SUSPECTS ARE TO BE HELD AND EVENTUALLY
TRIED AT A VACANT AIR BASE. THE NETHERLANDS IS TO TEMPORARILY
TRANSFER THE BASE TO BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY. THE ACCUSED ARE THEN
TO BE FORMALLY EXTRADITED FOR THE TRIAL. IF CONVICTED, THEY ARE
TO SERVE THEIR TERMS IN A SCOTTISH PRISON.
THE U-S AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS HOPE THE SURRENDER OF THE
SUSPECTS WILL BRING JUSTICE TO A MAJOR CASE OF INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISM. LIBYA HOPES THE COMPROMISE WILL END ITS DIPLOMATIC
ISOLATION AND ALLOW A RESUMPTION OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT. THE
FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE BOMBING SAY THEY HOPE THE TRIAL
WILL BRING CLOSURE TO A DECADE OF PAIN AND UNCERTAINTY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SB/RAE
05-Apr-99 10:05 AM EDT (1405 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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