News

 

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)

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Source: Voice of America

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