Relatives of Lockerbie victims cautious of Libya’s compo pledge

RELATIVES of the victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing have given a cautious welcome to a statement by Libya that it is ready, in principle, to pay them compensation.

The announcement was made by Libyan Foreign Minister Abderrahmane Chalgam, after talks between his leader, Colonel Gaddafi, and visiting British Foreign Office Minister Mike O’Brien.

Jim Swire, a spokesman for the families of the Lockerbie victims, said the Libyan announcement should be regarded as a significant step forward.

Mr O’Brien was expected to hold further talks with Libyan officials yesterday before returning to London.

Libya has never admitted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am flight 103, which killed 270 people.

Libyan Abdelbaset al-Megrahi is serving life in a Scottish prison after being convicted in 2001 of the bombing.

“This is the first time, I think, that an important member of the Libyan regime has made a comment like this,” Mr Swire said.

“But of course, paying compensation is only one of the things that Libya has to do if she wants to get the UN sanctions permanently removed,” he said.

Sanctions against Libya have been suspended, but Colonel Gaddafi wants them lifted permanently.

Mr O’Brien said Colonel Gaddafi had “said the right things” on a range of issues, including the fight against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

On Wednesday, Minister Chalgam said that Libya was discussing the issue of responsibility, and was “ready to get rid of this obstacle”.

Mr Chalgam spoke of Libya’s desire to improve relations not only with Britain, but with the US.

“We have to extend and expand our bilateral relations with Britain and also we are completely keen to arrive at reconciliation and normalisation with the US,” he said.

The three-hour meeting, at coastal town Sirte, about 320km east of Tripoli, between Colonel Gaddafi and Mr O'Brien was the first time since 1983 that a British minister had met the Libyan leader.