Libyan Lockerbie pledge sparks sceptical reaction

CAMPAIGNERS have reacted with scepticism to the news that Libyan files relating to the Lockerbie bombing will be released by the new government in Tripoli.

The Libyan administration is said to be preparing to release all files relating to the 1988 bombing, according to the country’s ambassador to the UK.

Mahmud Nacua paid his respects to the victims and their families in an interview with the BBC and went on to say that the Libyan government would release all information relating to the bombing.

He emphasised, however, that this would only be done when the country was again stable.

Mr Nacua said: “We sympathise with them, with their loss and I think our government, when we have enough time, enough security and stability, all files will be open and everyone will know what happened with that crime.”

Twenty-four years ago yesterday, on 21 December, 1988, 270 people were killed when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie.

In 2001, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was convicted of mass murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

He was released eight years later on compassionate grounds and died in May this year.

Robert Forrester, secretary of the Justice for Megrahi campaign group, said the move was encouraging but added that he was sceptical.

Dr Jim Swire, who lost his daughter Flora in the bombing and was formerly the spokesman for the British relatives of Lockerbie (UK Families Flight 103), also raised doubts over the announcement.

Dr Swire said: “The place that the authorities want to look if they really want to procrastinate over this is Scotland not Libya.”