DATE=4/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229489
TITLE=GERMANY / LIBYA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=BONN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   TWO LEADING GERMAN NEWS MAGAZINES SAY LIBYAN AUTHORITIES
MAY NOW BE WILLING TO PROVIDE HELP IN THE 12-YEAR-OLD 
INVESTIGATION OF A DEADLY TERRORIST BOMBING IN BERLIN.  VOA'S 
KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT:   SINCE LAST YEAR, FIVE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON TRIAL FOR THE 
1986 BOMBING OF THE "LA BELLE" DISCO IN BERLIN.  THE ATTACK 
KILLED TWO AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND A TURKISH WOMAN, AND TRIGGERED
RETALIATORY U-S AIR STRIKES ON LIBYA.

GERMAN INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE LIBYAN AUTHORITIES ORDERED AND 
DIRECTED THE ATTACK FROM THE FORMER LIBYAN EMBASSY IN EAST 
BERLIN.  THEY SO FAR HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO QUESTION KEY LIBYAN 
INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

THAT MAY BE ABOUT TO CHANGE.  TWO GERMAN NEWS MAGAZINES,  "DER 
SPIEGEL" AND "FOCUS," SAY GERMAN JUSTICE OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING 
A FORMAL REQUEST FOR HELP FROM LIBYAN AUTHORITIES.

THE MAGAZINE REPORTS, WHICH WERE RELEASED AHEAD OF PUBLICATION ON
SATURDAY, SAY SENIOR LIBYAN ENVOY'S ACTING ON BEHALF OF LIBYAN 
LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI, SAY HE WANTS TO HELP SOLVE THE CRIME.

THE MAGAZINE REPORTS SAY TWO BERLIN JUDGES WORKING ON THE CASE 
MAY BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL TO TRIPOLI TO QUESTION SENIOR 
INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOMBING.

GERMAN AND LIBYAN OFFICIALS HAD  NO  IMMEDIATE COMMENT ON THE 
REPORTS.   FIVE PEOPLE, A LIBYAN, TWO PALESTINIANS AND TWO 
GERMANS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH CARRYING OUT THE 1986 BOMBING.  
ALL FIVE DENY THE CHARGES.  (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/PCF

10-Apr-98 9:38 AM EDT (1338 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.