OWN CORRESPONDENT, The Hague | Tuesday 12.00pm.
THE Libyan suspects in the Lockerbie bombing case will only face trial in an “international court,” Libyan leader Moammar Gadaffi said in an interview with Dutch television broadcast on Monday. This means a trial by Scottish judges is out of the question.
“An international court is the solution, with judges from America, Libya, England and other countries,” Gadaffi said. He stressed that Libya wants to avoid further hostilities with the United States and Britain and that Tripoli is eager to reach a diplomatic solution to the stand-off.
“The discussions have to continue. The door has to stay open. We’re not saying no,” he said, adding: “Western countries — like Libya — will not benefit from hostilities. Nobody will benefit from confrontations.”
Gadaffi’s remarks were broadcast on the 10th anniversary of the attack on the US-bound Pan Am Boeing 747 jet from London, which blew up over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21 1988. The blast killed 270 people, including 11 on the ground.
During the interview, which the TV station stressed was filmed before the latest air strikes on Iraq, Gadaffi said the court has to be fully independent before Libya could consider handing over its two nationals. “The court must be independent. We won’t go anywhere with an English judge,” he said.
“Why shouldn’t they appear before a Libyan judge? They are Libyan after all. Don’t they [Britain and the United States] trust Libyan judges?” Gadaffi asked. “Well, Libya doesn’t trust the other judges either. That’s why a third party is necessary or an international court.” — AFP