DATE=4/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247594
TITLE=BRITAIN/LOCKERBIE (L-O)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-N LEGAL ADVISOR HANS CORELL IS ON HIS WAY TO LIBYA TO 
TO ESCORT TWO LIBYAN SUSPECTS TO THE NETHERLANDS TO STAND TRIAL  
IN THE LOCKERBIE BOMBING CASE. THE TWO MEN ARE ACCUSED OF THE 
BOMBING OF AN AMERICAN AIRLINER OVER LOCKERBIE SCOTLAND IN 1988, 
WHICH KILLED 270 PEOPLE. V-O-A LONDON CORRESPONDENT LAURIE 
KASSMAN REPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN  WELCOMED BY FAMILIES OF
THE VICTIMS.

TEXT:  THE U-N LEGAL OFFICER IS TO ESCORT THE TWO SUSPECTS, ALONG
WITH THEIR LAWYERS AND FAMILIES, TO THE NETHERLANDS WHERE A 
SCOTTISH COURT HAS BEEN SET UP AT AN UNUSED AIR BASE.  THE MEN 
ARE ACCUSED OF PLANTING A BOMB IN A SUITCASE PUT ABOARD PAN AM 
FLIGHT 1-0-3 IN DECEMBER 1988.

JIM SWIRE REPRESENTS THE FAMILIES OF BRITISH VICTIMS OF THE 
TERRORIST ATTACK.  HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER, FLORA, WAS AMONG THE 270 
PEOPLE KILLED WHEN THE AIRLINER BLEW UP OVER LOCKERBIE, SCOTLAND.
HE SAYS THE TRIAL NOW CAN BEGIN, ONCE THE SUSPECTS ARE ARRAIGNED.

                        /// SWIRE ACT ///

         THEY'LL TURN UP IN HOLLAND, THEY'LL BE ARRAIGNED IN 
         FRONT OF A DUTCH LEGAL PERSON OF SOME KIND. AND 
         BASICALLY HE'LL SAY, "DO YOU AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE 
         AUTHORITY OF THE SCOTTISH COURT THAT HAS BEEN SET UP IN 
         HOLLAND?"  AND, ASSUMING THEY SAY, YES, THEN I THINK 
         TRANSFER TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE COURT SHOULD BE 
         VIRTUALLY INSTANTANEOUS AND THE WHOLE THING WILL BE OVER
         IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

                                  /// END ACT ///

MR SWIRE  WILL FOLLOW THE TRIAL CLOSELY BOTH AT HOME AND IN THE 
COURTROOM.

                             /// SWIRE ACT TWO ///

          I UNDERSTAND THAT AT ONE POINT, IT'S LIKELY THAT 
         RELATIVES MAY BE CALLED AS WITNESSES AT THE START OF THE
         TRIAL AND WE'LL COMPLY WITH THAT.  I HOPE THAT, FOR A 
         GREAT PART OF THE TRIAL, SOME OF US WILL BE THERE AS 
         OBSERVERS.

                               /// END ACT ///

MR SWIRE SAYS THE TRIAL IS IMPORTANT TO PROVING THE GUILT OR 
INNOCENCE OF THE TWO LIBYAN SUSPECTS.  HE SAYS IT WILL ALSO OPEN 
THE WAY FOR A FULL PROBE INTO SECURITY OPERATIONS AT LONDON'S 
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THAT FAILED TO DETECT THE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE 
THAT BLEW UP THE PAN AM AIRLINER AS IT PASSED OVER THE SCOTTISH 
TOWN OF LOCKERBIE. (SIGNED)

NEB/LK/ALW/GE

03-Apr-99 8:23 AM EST (1323 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.