DATE=7/31/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217925
TITLE= RENO / LIBYA / PANAM  (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MELISSA WINKLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: U-S ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO HAS BLASTED LIBYA'S LATEST
ATTEMPT TO THWART THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE 1988 BOMBING OF  PAN
AM 103 OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND.  SHE SAYS THIS LATEST LIBYAN 
EFFORT CAME IN THE FORM OF A LETTER TO FAMILIES OF AMERICAN 
VICTIMS INVOLVED IN A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST LIBYA.  THE UNITED 
STATES HOLDS LIBYA RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOMBING, WHICH KILLED ALL 
270 PEOPLE ON BOARD THE PLANE.  V-O-A'S MELISSA WINKLER HAS MORE.

TEXT: ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO SAYS THE LIBYAN PERMANENT 
MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS HAS SENT UNSIGNED LETTERS TO 
FAMILIES OF AMERICANS MURDERED IN THE 1988 ATTACK ON PAN AM 
FLIGHT-103.

THE LETTERS WERE ADDRESSED TO FAMILIES REPRESENTED IN A CIVIL 
SUIT IN NEW YORK AGAINST LIBYA, LIBYAN-ARAB AIRLINES, AND TWO 
LIBYAN OPERATIVES, PROTECTED BY TRIPOLI, AND INDICTED IN THE 
UNITED STATES IN 1991 FOR CARRYING OUT THE BOMBING.

MS. RENO SAYS THE LETTER, IN AN APPARENT EFFORT TO DIVERT THE 
CASE, ASSERTS THE U-S GOVERNMENT IS  NO  LONGER INTERESTED IN THE
INCIDENT NOR DOES IT CARE ABOUT THE VICTIMS. MS. RENO CALLED THE 
SUGGESTION UNTRUE AND TOTALLY OFFENSIVE.

                         // RENO ACT //

         THE LIBYAN LETTER IS A CALLOUS EFFORT, BY EXPLOITING ITS
         POSITION AS A DEFENDANT IN CIVIL LITIGATION, TO PRAY ON 
         THE EMOTIONS OF FAMILIES -- IN AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERCUT 
         OUR WILL TO SEE THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED. WE WILL NOT BE 
         MANIPULATED LIKE THAT. 

                          // END ACT //

MS. RENO WARNED LIBYA THAT U-S COMMITMENT TO PROSECUTE THOSE 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK WILL  NOT  LESSEN WITH THE PASSAGE OF 
TIME AND THAT INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST TRIPOLI ARE  NOT  
GOING AWAY.  SHE DEMANDED THAT LIBYA SURRENDER THE TWO DEFENDANTS
CHARGED IN THE CASE, DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION IT HAS ABOUT THE 
CRIME, COMPENSATE THE VICTIMS AND CEASE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.

LIBYA HAS REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO HAND OVER THE TWO SUSPECTS, 
DENYING ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PAN AM BOMBING.  (SIGNED)

NEB/MJW/KL

31-Jul-97 11:31 AM EDT (1531 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.