USA: extra checkpoint screening of airline passengers from 14 countries

Due to a new directive of the Transportation Security Administration airline passengers flying to the U.S. from 14 countries with terrorism problems will face extra checkpoint screening at overseas airports. The countries include Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudia Arabia, Somalia and Yemen as well as Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.

The new directive will be in place indefinitely and replaces an emergency order the TSA imposed after a Nigerian passenger tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight near Detroit on Dec. 25.

Source: USA Today; find article here>> and TSA statement here>>.

Lockerbie: Compensation

UK families have treated, with some scepticism, claims by US lawyers that they have negotiated a new settlement for families of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing. The settlements are said to amount to £6.4m (€10.08m or $10.12m) per family. However, there have been previous claims of settlement but these have failed to materialize.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Lockerbie: Appeal

Abdelbaset Megrahi has lodged an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights alleging breaches of his human rights in his trial by the Scottish High Court of Justiciary and in his imprisonment in Glasgow.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Lockerbie Conviction Upheld

Abdelbaset ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Libyan man found guilty of the Lockerbie bombing, has lost his appeal against conviction. The High Court of Justiciary jailed him for life in January 2001 for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in December 1988. 270 people were killed, including all those on board and others in the small Scottish border town.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Compensation for Bombing of Plane

Libya provided FF 200m ($31m/£50m) to compensate families of those killed in the bombing of a UTA DC-10 over Niger on a flight from Brazzaville (Congo) to Paris on 19 September 1989. 170 people were killed. A Paris court sentence 6 Libyans in absentia in March for placing the bomb on the plane. The French Foreign Ministry said that the sum was "an acknowledgement by the Libyan authorities of the responsibility of their citizens in accordance with the rulings of French justice".

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Scotland/Libya/USA - Lockerbie

Jim Swire, a spokesman for the relatives of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing has stated that he believes Libya has legitimate concerns about the proposals for a trial of the two Libyan suspects under Scots Law in the Netherlands. Libya has asked for guarantees that the two men will not be extradited to the UK or USA. The UK and USA governments have stated that their proposals are not up for negotiation. Mr Swire's daughter, Flora, was killed in the bombing. (2/10/98) UK Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, stated that, if convicted the two Libyan suspects would be sent to prison in Scotland. (16/10/98) The British Ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenslock, has stated that Libyan witnesses at the Lockerbie trial would be guaranteed immunity from prosecution. (17/10/98) Lockerbie - The Facts: On 21 December 1988, Pan Am flight 103 from Frankfurt to New York via London exploded over the small town of Lockerbie in South West Scotland. All 259 passengers and crew were killed as were 11 Lockerbie residents. On 14 November 1991, the investigation by the Lord Advocate (Scotland's chief law officer) concluded with a warrant for the arrest of two Libyans, Abdel Baset Ali Mohamed al Megrahi and Al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah on charges of murder, conspiracy and contravention of the Aviation Security Act 1982. The USA issued a similar indictment. Lockerbie Prosecution Team: The Lord Advocate has been accused of including a 'token woman' in the prosecution team for the Lockerbie trial. Morag Armstrong, 35, has been included despite the fact that she left the bar more that a year ago. Donald Findlay QC, one of Scotland's most noted defence advocates expressed surprise and concern and questioned why the Lord Advocate had not chosen one of a number of other noted female advocates with more criminal experience. (20/10/98)

(Originally posted by John Downes)