UK Lockerbie families 'kept in the dark'

Published on Thursday 13 March 2003 00:00

FAMILIES of British victims killed in the Lockerbie bombing today accused the Foreign Office of keeping them in the dark over talks with Libya.

Spokesman David Ben-Aryeah said the hopes of relatives had been built up this week after reports suggesting a deal was imminent. After it emerged a deal had still not been reached, he said relatives were suffering "intense distress and anguish".

Families blamed the confusion on the lack of briefing by Foreign Office staff.

Mr Ben-Aryeah added: "This week they [the families] knew about the meeting in London, mainly from the media, but received no briefing in any form from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office."

The latest in a series of tripartite talks was held in London on Tuesday. Some reports said an agreement would see Libya accepting responsibility for the 1988 bombing. But families of United States victims were told yesterday that a deal had not been done.

United Nations Security Council resolutions require Libya to accept responsibility for the bombing of a Pan Am plane over Scotland, in which 270 people died.

Libya is also required to pay compensation to the families of victims, reported to be 6.5 million for each person who died. They are among conditions Libya must meet before UN sanctions can be formally lifted.