DATE=4/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247620
TITLE= LIBYA / LOCKERBIE / ARABS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A GROUP OF ARAB OFFICIALS IS TRAVELING TO LIBYA TO 
WITNESS THE HANDOVER OF TWO LIBYANS, WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH 
THE LOCKERBIE PLANE BOMBING CASE.  MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT 
SCOTT BOBB REPORTS U-N AND LIBYAN OFFICIALS SAY THE HANDOVER IS 
TO BE COMPLETED BY TUESDAY.

TEXT:  SENIOR OFFICIALS FROM BOTH THE ARAB LEAGUE AND EGYPTIAN 
GOVERNMENT LEFT CAIRO SUNDAY FOR TRIPOLI.  ARAB LEAGUE OFFICIALS 
SAID ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL AHMED BEN HELI, AND EGYPTIAN 
MINISTER OF ADMINISTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT, MOHAMED ZAKI ABU AMER, 
WENT TO THE TUNISIAN CITY OF DJERBA, FROM WHERE THEY WOULD TRAVEL
OVERLAND TO THE LIBYAN CAPITAL.

THE OFFICIALS SAID THEY HAD BEEN INVITED BY LIBYA TO WITNESS THE 
HANDOVER OF THE TWO LOCKERBIE SUSPECTS.  UNDER AN AGREEMENT 
ANNOUNCED TWO-WEEKS AGO, LIBYA IS TO SURRENDER THE SUSPECTS TO 
SENIOR U-N OFFICIALS, WHO WILL ESCORT THEM TO THE NETHERLANDS.

THEY ARE TO BE TRIED IN THE NETHERLANDS ON CHARGES OF 
MASTERMINDING THE BOMBING OF A "PAN AM" PASSENGER PLANE OVER 
LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND, 10-YEARS AGO (DECEMBER 1988).  
TWO-HUNDRED-70 PEOPLE DIED IN THE ATTACK.

UNTIL RECENTLY, LIBYA HAD REFUSED TO SURRENDER THE TWO SUSPECTS, 
SAID TO BE LIBYAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS.  LIBYA SAID THEY COULD NOT
RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL IN BRITAIN OR THE UNITED STATES, WHICH 
CLAIMED JURISDICTION IN THE CASE.  A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED LAST 
YEAR TO ALLOW THE SUSPECTS TO BE TRIED IN THE NETHERLANDS, A 
NEUTRAL COUNTRY, USING SCOTTISH JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS.

THE HANDOVER WAS DELAYED AS LIBYA SOUGHT ASSURANCES THE SUSPECTS'
RIGHTS WOULD BE PRESERVED IF THEY WERE CONVICTED, AND THE TRADE 
AND AIR TRAVEL SANCTIONS IMPOSED FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS WOULD 
BE LIFTED UNCONDITIONALLY.

LEADERS OF SOUTH AFRICA, SAUDI ARABIA, EGYPT, AND THE ARAB LEAGUE
IN RECENT MONTHS HAVE SOUGHT TO MEDIATE AN END TO THE DEADLOCK. 

SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA TWO-WEEKS AGO VISITED 
LIBYA.  AND WITH LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI BY HIS SIDE, HE 
ANNOUNCED LIBYA HAD AGREED TO HAND OVER THE SUSPECTS BY APRIL 
6TH.

                         // REST OPT //

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE SITE OF THE TRIAL -- A FORMER U-S AIR BASE 
IN THE NETHERLANDS -- IS UNDER PREPARATION.  UNDER A COMPLEX 
LEGAL FORMULA, THE BASE IS TO BE TEMPORARILY GIVEN SCOTTISH 
TERRITORIAL STATUS.  THE SUSPECTS SUBSEQUENTLY ARE TO BE 
EXTRADITED TO THE TERRITORY FOR THE TRIAL.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THAT ONCE THE SUSPECTS ARE TURNED OVER, U-N 
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE SECURITY
COUNCIL SUSPENDING THE SANCTIONS AGAINST LIBYA.  THEY SAY THE 
SECURITY COUNCIL CAN FORMALLY END THE SANCTIONS 90-DAYS LATER.   
(SIGNED) 

NEB/SB/PCF/RAE

04-Apr-99 11:30 AM EDT (1530 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.