DATE=8/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237857
TITLE=LIBYA/LOCKERBIE (L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  LIBYAN LEADER MOAMMAR GADHAFI NOW SAYS HE WILL  NOT  
IMMEDIATELY HAND OVER TWO LIBYAN MEN SUSPECTED OF BOMBING AN 
AMERICAN AIRLINER OVER SCOTLAND IN 1988.  RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS 
FROM CAIRO THAT SOME ANALYSTS SEE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AS ANOTHER 
ATTEMPT BY LIBYA TO STALL THE EXTRADITIONS.
 
TEXT: MR. GADHAFI TOLD QATARI TELEVISION LATE FRIDAY THAT HE 
WANTS TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS UNDER WHICH THE TWO LIBYANS -- 
SUSPECTED OF DESTROYING PAN AM FLIGHT 103 AS IT WAS FLYING OVER 
THE SCOTTISH TOWN OF LOCKERBIE -- ARE TO BE EXTRADITED TO A COURT
IN THE NETHERLANDS.

BOTH BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE SAID THEIR OFFER TO HOLD 
THE TRIAL IN A THIRD COUNTRY IS  NOT  OPEN TO NEGOTIATION.
 
A PROMINENT LIBYAN DISSIDENT NOW LIVING IN CAIRO, MOHAMMED FAIZ 
JABRIL, SAYS THAT LIBYA IS TRYING TO DELAY THE EXTRADITION OF THE
SUSPECTS BECAUSE THE TRIAL COULD EXPOSE THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT'S 
INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOMBING WHICH KILLED 270 PEOPLE.

                  ///INSERT FAIZ JABRIL ACT/// 

         GADHAFI KNOWS THAT HE IS INVOLVED AND HE KNOWS THAT HIS 
         INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WAS DIRECTED BY HIM AND HE KNOWS 
         THAT THE COURT WILL FIND OUT HIS PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT.  
         BECAUSE IF HE WAS INNOCENT AND HIS REGIME WAS INNOCENT, 
         WHY DOES HE HESITATE SO MUCH? 

                          ///END ACT///

LIBYA IS ALSO ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE MID-FLIGHT BOMBING OF
A FRENCH U-T-A FLIGHT OVER NIGER IN 1989 WHICH KILLED 171 PEOPLE.

MR. JABRIL SAYS THE U-T-A BOMBING COULD HAVE BEEN ORDERED BECAUSE
OF HIS OWN WEDDING.

HIS FATHER-IN-LAW -- THEN THE LEADER OF THE LIBYAN NATIONAL 
SALVATION FRONT, A CHAD-BASED GROUP OPPOSED TO MR. GADHAFI -- WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE ILL-FATED U-T-A FLIGHT TO ATTEND MR. 
JABRIL'S WEDDING IN CAIRO.  HOWEVER, HE CHANGED HIS TRAVEL PLANS 
AT THE LAST MINUTE.
 
A U-N RESOLUTION PASSED THURSDAY INSISTED THAT LIBYA SATISFY A 
FRENCH INVESTIGATION INTO THE U-T-A BOMBING.  THE U-N SECURITY 
COUNCIL ALSO PROMISED TO SUSPEND SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA IF THE 
TWO SUSPECTS WERE TAKEN TO THE NETHERLANDS FOR TRIAL -- WHILE 
THREATENING TO MAKE THOSE SANCTIONS MORE SEVERE IF LIBYA REFUSES 
TO EXTRADITE THE TWO MEN. (SIGNED) 

NEB/RHE/DW

29-Aug-98 9:47 AM EDT (1347 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.