For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
January 31, 2001
Statement by the Press Secretary
The Scottish Court presiding over the trial of the two Libyans accused
of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21, 1988, has found Abdel
Basset al-Megrahi guilty of murder. The court found
conclusively that the defendant caused an explosive device to detonate
on board Pan Am flight 103 and murdered the flight's 259 passengers and
crew as well as eleven residents of Lockerbie,
Scotland. Al-Megrahi will now face a mandatory sentence of
life imprisonment under Scottish law.
With respect to Al-Amin Khalifa Fahima, the Court concluded that the
Crown failed to present sufficient evidence to satisfy the high
standard of "proof beyond reasonable doubt" that is necessary in
criminal cases. This does not mean that he is innocent of
the crime charged. This verdict is a victory for an
international effort and has resulted in the conviction of a member of
the Libyan intelligence services. The Government of Libya
must take responsibility.
The United States and the United Kingdom have made clear to the
Government of Libya that the delivery of a verdict against the suspects
in the Pan Am 103 trial does not in itself signify an end to UN
sanctions against Libya. UN Security Council Resolutions call on Libya
to satisfy certain requirements, including compensation to the victims?
families and the acceptance of responsibility for this act of
terrorism, before UN sanctions will be removed. The
Government of Libya has not yet satisfied these
requirements. The United States and the United Kingdom will
consult closely and then approach the Government of Libya in the near
future to discuss the remaining steps Libya must take under the UN
Resolutions.
We want to express our deepest sympathy to the families of those lost
in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Nothing can undo the
suffering this act of terrorism has caused. But we hope that
this verdict will help reduce the anguish and uncertainty that the
family members have endured since December 21, 1988, and that they are
able to find some solace in the measure of justice achieved by this
decision.
The President congratulates the Scottish prosecution team, thanks the
Dutch Government for their assistance and the entire United States
Government team who contributed to this outcome.
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