DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246458
TITLE= FRANCE LIBYA TRIAL (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY
DATELINE=PARIS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A FRENCH COURT WEDNESDAY CONVICTED AND SENTENCED SIX 
LIBYANS IN THEIR ABSENCE TO LIFE IN JAIL FOR THE 1989 BOMBING OF 
A FRENCH AIRLINER THAT KILLED 170 PEOPLE ON BOARD. JULIAN NUNDY 
REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT:  THE SIX LIBYANS -- INCLUDING ABDALLAH SENOUSSI, A 
BROTHER-IN-LAW OF LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI -- WERE ALL GIVEN
THE MAXIMUM LIFE SENTENCE FOR THE BOMBING OF A FRENCH D-C-10 
AIRLINER OVER NIGER IN 1989. ALL OF THEM WERE ABSENT FROM THE 
TRIAL, HOWEVER. 

WHILE NONE IS LIKELY TO EVER SEE THE INSIDE OF A FRENCH PRISON 
CELL, THE VERDICT DOES MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE SIX -- ALL 
MEMBERS OF LIBYA'S SECURITY SERVICES OR DIPLOMATS -- TO TRAVEL. 
THEY RISK ARREST AND BEING HANDED OVER TO FRANCE, IF THEY GO 
ABROAD. IF THEY ARE EVER ARRESTED BY FRENCH POLICE, THEY WILL 
AUTOMATICALLY BE GUARANTEED A NEW TRIAL UNDER FRENCH LAW. 

THIS WEEK'S TRIAL BY A SPECIAL FRENCH ANTI-TERRORIST COURT LASTED
JUST THREE DAYS.  THAT'S BECAUSE ONLY THE PROSECUTION'S CASE AND 
STATEMENTS BY LAWYERS REPRESENTING THE FAMILIES OF THE 170 WHO 
DIED WERE HEARD.

THE BOMBING OF THE FRENCH AIRLINER THAT WAS FLYING BETWEEN 
BRAZZAVILLE AND PARIS, ALONG WITH A SIMILAR ATTACK ON A PAN 
AMERICAN AIRLINER OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND NINE MONTHS EARLIER, 
LED THE UNITED NATIONS TO IMPOSE INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS ON 
LIBYA.

THE AMERICANS AND THE BRITISH HAVE SOUGHT THE EXTRADITION OF THE 
LIBYAN OFFICIALS THEY HOLD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOCKERBIE TRAGEDY 
TO BE TRIED BEFORE AN INTERNATIONAL COURT.  BUT FRANCE HAS NOT 
FORMALLY SOUGHT THE  EXTRADITION OF ITS SIX SUSPECTS.  IT HAS 
INSTEAD TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO PERSUADE LIBYA TO SURRENDER THEM 
VOLUNTARILY.

FRANCE'S ANTI-TERRORIST SERVICES CONCLUDED THAT LIBYA WAS 
RESPONSIBLE AFTER THEY ANALYZED 15 TONS OF WRECKAGE STREWN OVER 
THE TENERE DESERT.  THEIR KEY ITEM OF EVIDENCE WAS PART OF A 
GERMAN-MADE TIMING DEVICE OF A KIND BOUGHT IN BULK BY LIBYA.  
THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE BOMB WAS CARRIED UNWITTINGLY BY A 
CONGOLESE WHO WAS GIVEN THE SUITCASE CONTAINING THE BOMB BY A 
LIBYAN DIPLOMAT IN BRAZZAVILLE. 

DURING THE INVESTIGATION, LIBYA ALLOWED FRANCE'S MAIN 
ANTI-TERRORIST INVESTIGATOR TO VISIT TRIPOLI TO INTERVIEW 
SUSPECTS. 

COLONEL GADHAFI HAS HINTED THAT HE MIGHT BE WILLING TO MAKE THE 
SUSPECTS SERVE WHATEVER SENTENCES ARE HANDED DOWN IN PARIS -- BUT
ONLY THAT TIME IS SERVED IN LIBYAN JAILS.  LAWYERS FOR THE 
VICTIMS' FAMILIES NOW SAY THEY WILL TRY AND PUT PRESSURE ON LIBYA
TO MAKE THIS PROMISE COME TRUE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JWN/PCF

10-Mar-99 11:03 AM EST (1603 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.