The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is starting her North African tour today in Libya. Al-Jazeera's English language website has an interesting article on the subject. Here is what it has to say on Lockerbie:
'Rice is also expected to push Gaddafi on a compensation package signed last month.
'No money has been paid into the compensation fund yet but the lead US negotiator with Libya, David Welch, said he was optimistic it would happen soon.
'Libya finalised legalities to set up the fund on Wednesday and one senior US official said it would take "more than days" before enough money was in the account and payments could be made to both sides.
'No details have been given over who will put money into the fund or how much it will amount to but outstanding legal claims could run into billions.
'US victims covered include those who died in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people, and the 1986 attack on a Berlin disco that killed three people and wounded 229.
'It should also compensate Libyans killed in 1986 when US aircraft bombed Tripoli and Benghazi, killing 40 people.
'Rice has come under criticism at home for making the trip before the money is paid out.'
The full article can be read here.
No comments:
Post a Comment