The United States has begun receiving money from Libya compensating the
families of American victims of Libyan-linked terror attacks in the 1980s, a
senior US official said yesterday.
"We have received a substantial amount of money in a US account toward
compensating the US victims and families with terrorism-related claims against
Libya," said the official who asked not to be identified.
The anonymous official declined to say how much money Libya had been
deposited in American victim account. But he said that Libya's action
demonstrated Tripoli's willingness to resolve outstanding claims, particularly
over the 1988 Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, and the 1986 bombing
of a German disco.
On Aug. 14, the United States and Libya signed in Tripoli a compensation
agreement for American victims of Libyan attacks and US reprisals.
The agreement calls for the creation of a 1.8 billion US dollars fund: 1.5
billion dollars for American victims and 300 million dollars to Libyan victims
of US airstrikes ordered in retaliation for the disco bombing, according to
David Welch, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs.
Libya agreed to compensate families of the victims of the 1988 bombing of a
Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people, and a Berlin
disco bombing that killed two Americans.
Despite "substantial amount" deposited into a US bank account, Libya has not
paid full amount of money needed to fulfill a compensation agreement reached
earlier this year, the official said.
