(248)  LOCKERBIE: COMPENSATION DEAL

 

President Gaddafi of Libya announced on 1 September 2003 that the one apparent remaining obstacle to the conclusion of the Lockerbie compensation deal made in August (see No 240) had been removed by Libya agreeing to increase the amount of compensation previously agreed to be paid to France by Libya in respect of a French airliner bombed in the Niger in 1989, killing 170 people.  This would allow France to give up its objection to the removal of UN sanctions against Libya following the Lockerbie deal.  The arrangement was not confirmed by the French authorities.