Relatives of Pan Am 103 victims angered by reported easing of Libya sanctions

Relatives of those who died on Pan Am Flight 103 expressed outrage over a report that the U.S. may lift its travel ban to Libya

April 5, 2000
Web posted at: 6:06 a.m. EDT (1006 GMT)

In this story: Letter of protest Rubin: Libya policy unchanged U.S. official: Story premature RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

NEW YORK -- An unconfirmed report that Washington is considering lifting the U.S. travel ban to Libya is prompting outrage by family members of victims of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

The report comes as victims' relatives prepare to attend a May 3 trial in the Netherlands of two Libyans accused of murder and conspiracy to murder in the attack which killed 270 people.

"The timing couldn't be more horrendous," said Bert Ammerman, who lost his brother in the bombing, "Why, with four or five weeks to trial, are you thinking about lifting restrictions put in place in 1981?"

Diplomatic relations between Washington and Tripoli were severed in 1981 because of alleged ties to terrorist attacks; Washington later imposed economic sanctions.

Kathleen Flynn, whose son was killed in the attack, said she was writing a letter of protest to U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

"The perception is fabulous for the Libyans. They're having a field day. Public relations- wise it has absolutely destroyed us," she said.

Outrage followed a USA Today report that said a U.S. delegation sent to Libya will recommend to Secretary Albright that the United States lift its 19-year-old travel ban to the North African nation.

"I'm not aware of a particular recommendation at this point," said State Department spokesman James Rubin in response to Tuesday's report. "I will take this opportunity to say that suggestions that we have changed our policy on Libya are simply inaccurate. "

Rubin added that the United States continues to insist that Libya meet certain United Nations resolutions stemming from an investigation that indicated Tripoli may have been involved in the bombing.

"We are focusing on ensuring that Libya takes further steps to meet the outstanding requirements of relevant Security Council resolutions, which include full cooperation with the trial of the Pan Am 103 shoot-down; an end to support for terrorism; acknowledgement of responsibility for actions of Libyan officials, and payment of appropriate compensation," Rubin said.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman P.J. Crowley said a delegation of U.S. officials recently traveled to Tripoli.

"There has been no recommendation to the secretary of state by the team that went to Libya," Crowley said. "I would say the story is at least premature."

The newspaper said the delegation which visited Libya in March for the first time in 20 years came back satisfied that U.S. citizens faced no "imminent danger" there.

It said their recommendation will be sent to Secretary Albright for a final decision as early as this week. "Imminent danger" is the criterion Albright uses to determine whether U.S. passports can be used for travel to a given country.

Albright cannot ban travel to a country unless Americans face "imminent danger" there. Only Libya and Iraq are currently in that category.

But Crowley said a decision on lifting the passport restriction is separate from U.S. policy against Libya or the issue of sanctions against Libya.

A decision to lift the ban would enable Americans to travel to Libya without special permission. It also would facilitate a visit by a U.S. congressional delegation expected this month.

European businessmen have been visiting Libya in growing numbers since the U.N. lifted its ban on air travel there in 1999. The end to the ban came after Libya handed over two suspects in the bombing for trial in the Netherlands under Scottish law.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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