DATE=8/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237763
TITLE=LIBYA / LOCKERBIE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE ARAB WORLD HAS GENERALLY WELCOMED LIBYA'S ACCEPTANCE 
OF A PROPOSAL UNDER WHICH TWO LIBYAN MEN WOULD GO ON TRIAL IN THE
NETHERLANDS IN CONNECTION WITH THE BOMBING OF AN AMERICAN 
JETLINER OVER SCOTLAND NEARLY 10-YEARS AGO.  BUT RICHARD ENGEL IN
CAIRO REPORTS SOME ANALYSTS SAY THEY DOUBT LIBYA'S SINCERITY.

TEXT:  THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE, ESMAT ABDEL 
MEGUID, SAID LIBYA'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE U-S AND BRITISH PROPOSAL 
IS BOTH POSITIVE AND EXPECTED.  HE SAID LIBYA'S ACCEPTANCE WILL 
HELP BRING AN END TO WHAT HE CALLS THE LOCKERBIE ISSUE. 

THE SECRETARY GENERAL ALSO SAID HE HAD EXPECTED LIBYA TO ACCEPT 
BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL IS VERY SIMILAR TO ONE PRESENTED BY LIBYA 
AND OTHER ARAB NATIONS THREE-YEARS AGO.

BUT, THE ARAB LEAGUE'S ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL IS REPORTED TO
HAVE TOLD OFFICIALS AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN CAIRO LIBYA NEEDS 
MORE TIME TO STUDY THE PROPOSAL BEFORE FURTHER STEPS CAN BE 
TAKEN.

ONE PROMINENT LIBYAN DISSIDENT, MOHAMMED FAIZ JABRIL, SAYS HE 
BELIEVES LIBYAN LEADER MOAMMAR GADHAFI IS TRYING TO DELAY HANDING
OVER THE SUSPECTS BECAUSE THEY MAY IMPLICATE HIS GOVERNMENT IN 
THE BOMBING WHICH KILLED 270 PEOPLE.

MR. JABRIL SAYS IT IS GROWING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR LIBYA TO
DELAY THEIR EXTRADITION BECAUSE BOTH ARAB AND AFRICAN COUNTRIES 
-- LIBYA'S TRADITIONAL SUPPORTERS -- NOW SUPPORT THE U-S AND 
BRITISH PROPOSAL.

                    ///  FAIZ JABRIL ACT  ///

         FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A DELAY TACTIC. OF COURSE, THEY 
         ARE REALLY IN TROUBLE NOW BECAUSE ALL OF THE ARAB 
         LEAGUE, ARAB AND AFRICAN STATES, ALL FEEL EMBARRASSED.  
         THEY CANNOT SUPPORT THEM NOW.  PLUS, THE TIMING. NOW IN 
         THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, THEY ARE ALERT AND EVERYBODY IS
         AGAINST TERRORISM. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. JABRIL SAYS HE ANTICIPATES THAT MR. GADHAFI WILL SEEK A WAY 
TO FURTHER DELAY THE EXTRADITIONS. HE SAYS HE EXPECTS THAT 
LIBYA'S POWERFUL REVOLUTION COMMITTEE MAY ORDER THE COUNTRY'S 
LOCAL COUNCILS -- KNOWN AS LIBYAN CONVENTIONS -- TO REJECT THE 
EXTRADITIONS.  LIBYA HAS MORE THAN 300 OF THESE "CONVENTIONS" 
WHICH ARE SAID TO REFLECT THE WILL OF THE LIBYAN PEOPLE.  

MR. JABRIL SAYS THAT IF THE LOCAL COUNCILS REJECT THE 
EXTRADITIONS, MR. GADHAFI CAN SAY THAT HE IS  NOT  REFUSING TO 
EXTRADITE THE SUSPECTS, BUT THAT IT IS THE LIBYAN PEOPLE WHO 
REFUSE.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/RHE/JWH

27-Aug-98 12:27 PM EDT (1627 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.