U.S. Approaches Compensation Deal With Libya

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Libya and the United States appear ready to conclude a
compensation agreement for the American victims of attacks attributed to
Tripoli in the 1980s.
Officials said the State Department has been wrapping up an accord for
Libya to complete compensation to the families of 270 victims of the Pan Am
jet downed over Lockerbie Scotland in 1988. Libya has refused to pay the
last installment of the multi-billion-dollar compensation.
"Once we have a deal, things will move very quickly toward our goal to
normalize relations with Libya," an official said.
On Aug. 4, U.S. President George Bush signed into law legislation to
facilitate Libyan compensation for attacks on Americans. Officials said
Tripoli was expected to sign a similar agreement to that of the Libyan
Claims Resolution Act over the next few weeks. The bill stipulated that
Libya would be granted immunity from future claims connected to Pan Am or
the Berlin disco attack in 1986 once compensation has been paid.