OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cairo | Sunday 8.30PM.
THE Arab League, attempting to negotiate a way for the Lockerbie trial to go ahead, has proposed that Libya and the Netherlands sign a pre-trial agreement spelling out details surrounding the prosecution of Libyan suspects.
Arab League chief Esmat Abdel Meguid has held separate meetings with the British ambassador to Egypt, David Blatherwick, and the Libyan delegate to the Arab League, Salma Rashed.
Abdel Meguid last week reaffirmed his support for Libya’s request for “guarantees” on the fate of the men before Tripoli delivers them for trial.
Libyan leader Muamar Gadaffi has accused the Uited States and Britain of planning to kidnap the men once they leave Libya.
“The Libyan and Dutch governments should sign an agreement to clarify all the issues pending in the Lockerbie case and in which the suspects will stand trial in The Hague under Scottish law,” Abdel Meguid said. “This proposal will be a tool aimed at pushing things forward concerning Lockerbie.”
The United Nations Security Council has asked UN secretary general Kofi Annan to arrange the safe transfer of the two men to the Netherlands.
The British government said Friday it would supply Libya with “clarification” over the proposed trial of the men, suspected of involvement in the 1988 bombing of a plane over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people.