DATE=12/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243383
TITLE=CLINTON / LOCKERBIE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON IS RULING OUT ANY COMPROMISE ON WHERE 
THE BOMBERS WHO BROUGHT DOWN PAN AMERICAN [AIRLINES] FLIGHT 103 
SHOULD BE IMPRISONED IF THEY ARE CONVICTED.  THE ISSUE HAS BECOME
A STUMBLING BMOCK IN EFFORTS TO TRY TWO LIBYANS FOR THEIR ALLEGED
INVOLVEMENT IN THE ATTACK OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND, A DECADE AGO.
V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT:  IT HAS BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE A BOMB BLEW UP PAN AM FLIGHT 
103, KILLING 270 PEOPLE.  BUT THE TWO LIBYAN SUSPECTS HAVE YET TO
BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE -- TO THE FRUSTRATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON 
AND THE ANGER OF MANY OF THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES.

IN AN EFFORT TO END A PROLONGED STANDOFF OVER THE ISSUE, 
WASHINGTON AND LONDON EARLIER THIS YEAR DROPPED THEIR INSISTENCE 
THAT THE SUSPECTS BE EXTRADITED TO EITHER OF THEIR COUNTRIES.  
INSTEAD, THEY CHALLENGED LIBYA TO MAKE GOOD ON ITS OFFER TO ALLOW
THEM TO BE TRIED IN THE HAGUE UNDER SCOTTISH LAW.

FOLLOWING A MEETING WITH U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN EARLIER
THIS MONTH IN TRIPOLI, LIBYAN LEADER MOAMMAR GADHAFI APPEARED TO 
AGREE TO RELEASE THE SUSPECTS ON THOSE CONDITIONS.  BUT A DISPUTE
OVER WHERE THEY WOULD SERVE THEIR PRISON TIME, IF CONVICTED, 
REMAINED A STUMBLING BLOCK.

AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE MONDAY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE AIRLINER 
BOMBING, AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY OUTSIDE WASHINGTON, MR. 
CLINTON MADE CLEAR THERE WOULD BE  NO  COMPROMISE ON THE MATTER.

                       /// CLINTON ACT ///

         THE LIBYAN LEADER, MR. GADHAFI, HAS GIVEN US MIXED 
         SIGNALS.  WE BELIEVE THERE IS SOME POSSIBILITY HE WILL 
         ACCEPT OUR OFFER.  THAT WOULD BE THE BEST OUTCOME, FOR 
         IT WOULD MEAN THAT FINALLY THERE WOULD BE A TRIAL.  BUT 
         LET ME BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR:  OUR POLICY IS  NOT  TO 
         TRUST MR. GADHAFI'S CLAIMS.  IT IS TO TEST THEM.  THIS 
         IS A TAKE-IT-OR-LEAVE-IT OFFER.  WE WILL  NOT  NEGOTIATE
         ITS TERMS.  IF THE SUSPECTS ARE CONVICTED, THEY WILL 
         SERVE THEIR TIME IN SCOTLAND.

                         /// END ACT ///

IN A WARNING TO MR. GADHAFI, MR. CLINTON SAID IF THE TWO SUSPECTS
ARE  NOT  TURNED OVER FOR TRIAL, HE WILL SEEK STRONGER U-N 
SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA.   (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/WTW

21-Dec-98 4:12 PM EST (2112 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.