DATE=4/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247607
TITLE=LOCKERBIE BOMBING SUSPECTS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LAUREN COMITEAU
DATELINE=THE HAGUE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE UNITED NATION'S CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL, HANS CORELL, IS 
EN ROUTE TO LIBYA FOR THE HANDOVER OF TWO SUSPECTS CHARGED WITH 
BLOWING UP PAN AM FLIGHT 103 OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND. MORE THAN 
A DECADE AFTER THE BOMBING THAT KILLED 270 PEOPLE, THE TWO MEN 
WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE NETHERLANDS TO STAND TRIAL BEFORE A 
SCOTTISH COURT.  LAUREN COMITEAU HAS MORE FROM THE HAGUE.

TEXT:  LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADAFFI HAS UNTIL TUESDAY (APRIL 6) 
TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISE TO TURN THE TWO SUSPECTS OVER TO U-N 
OFFICIALS, WHO WILL THEN FLY THEM TO THE NETHERLANDS FOR TRIAL. 
BUT THEY'RE EXPECTED HERE BEFORE MONDAY, BEGINNING A JUDICIAL 
PROCESS THAT'S TAKEN YEARS TO NEGOTIATE. 

THE U-S AND BRITAIN AGREED LAST YEAR TO ALLOW THE MEN TO BE TRIED
IN A NEUTRAL THIRD COUNTRY, A PROPOSAL THAT LIBYA HAD BEEN 
PUSHING. SO IN AN UNPRECEDENTED LEGAL ARRANGEMENT, THE MEN WILL 
NOW BE TRIED UNDER SCOTTISH LAW IN THE FORMER U-S MILITARY BASE 
OF KAMP ZEIST, NEAR THE CITY OF UTRECHT. 

THERE WON'T BE A JURY, BUT RATHER THREE SCOTTISH JUDGES WHO WILL 
DETERMINE GUILT OR INNOCENCE. PART OF THE MILITARY BASE HAS BEEN 
CEDED TO BRITAIN FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIAL. IT WILL FLY THE 
UNION JACK AND BE STAFFED WITH SCOTTISH POLICE OFFICERS AND 
PRISON GUARDS. ONE HUNDRED OF THE GUARDS ARRIVED HERE ON FRIDAY 
IN ANTICIPATION OF THE SUSPECTS' ARRIVAL. WHEN THEY GET HERE, 
THEY'LL FIRST HAVE TO BE EXTRADITED TO SCOTLAND. THAT'S A PROCESS
THAT COULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM A WEEK TO SEVERAL MONTHS, DEPENDING
ON WHETHER THE SUSPECTS FIGHT THE EXTRADITION REQUEST IN THE 
DUTCH COURTS. ANALYSTS SAY THAT'S NOT LIKELY. BUT ONCE THE MEN 
ARE ON DUTCH SOIL, U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA ARE EXPECTED TO BE
LIFTED.

THE TRIAL COULD LAST FOR MONTHS, POSSIBLY YEARS, AND IS EXPECTED 
TO COST SOME 200 MILLION U-S DOLLARS. U-S AND BRITISH OFFICIALS 
SAY THEY HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THE TWO SUSPECTS PLANTED A BOMB 
INSIDE A SUITCASE THAT EXPLODED ABOARD PAN AM FLIGHT 103 IN 1988.
RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS SAY THEY'RE RELIEVED THAT THEY'RE 
FINALLY GETTING CLOSER TO HEARING THAT EVIDENCE IN A COURT OF 
LAW. (SIGNED)

NEB/LC/GE

03-Apr-99 2:52 PM EST (1952 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.