Victims' families briefed on Lockerbie trial

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Scottish prosecutors assured relatives of Pan Am 103 victims Monday that "no deals" have been made and two Libyans will be prosecuted vigorously on charges they carried out the 1988 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland.

"I've assured the family members that there have been no deals," said Lord Hardie, Scotland's senior law officer. "There have been no deals and there will be no deals to hold back any available evidence in this case."

Nearly 200 relatives attended a private meeting to receive updates on preparations being made for the trial next February against alleged Libyan agents accused of planting a suitcase bomb on the Pan Am jetliner. The attack killed 270 people, including 189 Americans.

To persuade Libya to turn over the suspects -- Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah -- the British and U.S. governments agreed to hold the trial at Camp Zeist, Netherlands, 30 miles southeast of Amsterdam. Under a treaty, the camp will be considered Scottish territory for the duration of the trial, which will be conducted under Scottish law.

Susan Cohen, of Cape May Court House, N.J., opposes the deal, contending it essentially rewarded Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi for turning over the suspects. Like other victims' families, Cohen believes Gadhafi ordered the bombing.

"Those two men going on trial could never have acted independently," said Cohen, who lost her 20-year-old daughter, Theodora, in the explosion. "I'm afraid that Gadhafi will come out of this without a scratch."

But James Foley, a State Department spokesman, said officials worked diligently to put pressure on Gadhafi "to allow a fair trial outside Libya."

George Williams, of Joppa, Md., said he was relieved to see any action.

"We'll take from this whatever we can get," said Williams, who lost his 24-year-old son, Geordie.

In addition to Hardie, officials from the FBI and Justice Department also met with family members. Attorney General Janet Reno addressed the group briefly as well.

Families of the victims will be allowed to attend the trial with help from the British and U.S. governments. Alternatively, they can watch the proceeding from designated sites through encrypted satellite links that will be established for them. An Internet Web site also will be available to help relatives keep track of developments.

Copyright 1999
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.