Britain demands $700m compensation

LONDON, England -- The British government has demanded compensation from Libya for the families of those killed in the Lockerbie bombing.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday's conviction of Abdel Baset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi "confirms our long-standing suspicion that Libyan officials instigated the Lockerbie bombing."

Megrahi faces life imprisonment in a Scottish jail, while Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah was cleared by judges sitting at a special court in the Netherlands.

Following the verdict, Libya once again denied any role in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103 in which 270 people died.

But Blair's spokesman said: "we expect the Libyan authorities to take full responsibility for the actions of their officials. We also expect them to pay compensation as awarded by the courts."

The British government is expected to push for $700 million compensation for the victims' families.

"I think we would expect that certainly to be the minimum and think Libya should pay more. We would be looking for a payment of at least that amount," the spokesman said.

Libya's U.N. envoy Abuzed Dorda told CNN that Libya was shocked by the verdict against Megrahi but respected what he called the long history of the Scottish legal system.

"Libya had nothing to do with this tragedy at all. Libya as a state had nothing to do with this case," he said.

The British prime minister's spokesman said the ball was now in Libya's court. "They have obligations which are set out in the Security Council's resolutions."

"Libya cannot expect to be accepted as part of the law-abiding community unless it meets all those obligations."

He also praised what he said was "a meticulous criminal investigation."

"The Government's priority has been to identify those who were responsible and seek justice," he said.

"Our thoughts at this time are with the families. Nothing can make good what they lost in the bombing of Pan Am 103."

Reuters contributed to this report.

Libyan guilty of Lockerbie bombing
January 31, 2001
Lockerbie relatives welcome verdict
January 31, 2001

British Government
No10 Downing Street
Libyaonline

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