DATE=4/6/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247707 TITLE=LOCKERBIE BOMBING ARRAIGNMENT (L-ONLY) BYLINE=LAUREN COMITEAU DATELINE=THE HAGUE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SCOTTISH POLICE HAVE BROUGHT FORMAL CHARGES OF MURDER AGAINST TWO LIBYANS ACCUSED OF BLOWING UP AN AMERICAN PASSENGER JET OVER (LOCKERBIE) SCOTLAND, MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO. IF THE MEN ARE CONVICTED OF KILLING THE 270 PEOPLE ABOARD THE PLANE, THEY COULD BE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON. THE SUSPECTS ARRIVED IN THE NETHERLANDS MONDAY TO STAND TRIAL BEFORE A SPECIAL COURT. LAUREN COMITEAU REPORTS FROM THE HAGUE. TEXT: THE ARRAIGNMENT TOOK PLACE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TOLD REPORTERS THE TWO MEN LISTENED AS THE NAMES OF ALL 270 OF THE BOMBING VICTIMS WERE READ OUT. THEY WERE CHARGED -- IN BOTH ENGLISH AND ARABIC -- WITH MURDER, CONSPIRACY AND VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL AVIATION LAW FOR ALLEGEDLY PLANTING A BOMB IN A SUITCASE THAT EXPLODED ABOARD THE PAN AMERICAN [AIRWAYS] JUMBO JET. THE ACCUSED MEN DID NOT ENTER A PLEA. THAT WILL COME WHEN THEIR TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY. THEY CONFIRMED THEIR IDENTITIES BEFORE A SCOTTISH JUDGE -- AND WERE FINGER-PRINTED, PHOTOGRAPHED, AND MADE TO GIVE D-N-A SAMPLES IN THIS FIRST STEP OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS WITHIN THE SCOTTISH SYSTEM. IN AN UNPRECEDENTED ARRANGEMENT, THE TWO MEN WILL BE TRIED BY THREE SCOTTISH JUDGES AT A FORMER U-S MILITARY BASE, KAMP ZEIST, 10 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL DUTCH CITY OF UTRECHT. THE BASE HAS BEEN CEDED TO BRITAIN -- MUCH LIKE A CONSULATE OR EMBASSY -- FOR THE DURATION OF THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. SECURITY IS TIGHT, WITH SCOTTISH POLICE ARMED WITH MACHINE GUNS AND ATTACK DOGS PATROLLING THE BASE'S PERIMETER. // OPT // THE MEN ARE STAYING IN A TEMPORARY DETENTION CENTER -- RENAMED "HER MAJESTY'S PRISON, ZEIST" -- WHILE WORKERS FINISH CONVERTING A BOMB-PROOF UNDERGROUND COMPLEX INTO MORE PERMANENT CELLS. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A PRAYER ROOM AND AN EXERCISE ROOM. // END OPT // PROSECUTORS HAVE ABOUT ONE WEEK TO PRESENT A SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST THE LIBYAN MEN. UNDER SCOTTISH LAW, A TRIAL SHOULD START WITHIN 110 DAYS OF THE ARRAIGNMENT. BUT SCOTTISH POLICE -- WHO MADE INQUIRES IN 70 COUNTRIES -- HAVE GATHERED ABOUT 15-THOUSAND STATEMENTS, 18-THOUSAND ITEMS OF PROPERTY, AND 35-THOUSAND PHOTOGRAPHS. THAT EVIDENCE MUST BE DISCLOSED TO DEFENSE LAWYERS WHO THEN NEED TIME TO PREPARE THEIR CASES. A SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SPOKESWOMAN SAYS THAT COULD DELAY THE TRIAL BY SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR. THE MEN SAY THEY ARE INNOCENT. IF FOUND GUILTY, THEY WILL SERVE THEIR SENTENCES IN SCOTLAND. (SIGNED) NEB/LC/JWH/WTW 06-Apr-99 3:02 PM EDT (1902 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .