White House calls Lockerbie verdict a 'victory'

Fleischer says that sanctions against Libya will remain until certain requirements of the United Nations Security Council resolutions are met

By White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House called the split verdict in the trial of the two Libyans accused in the December 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103 a "victory for an international effort" which "resulted in an indictment of a member of the Libyan intelligence services."

The verdict does not, however, "signify an end to U.N. sanctions" against the North African nation, officials said.

"The government of Libya must take responsibility," said Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary, in a paper statement issued about two hours after the verdict was announced in The Netherlands.

The White House also expressed its sympathies to the families of the victims.

"Nothing can undo the suffering this act of terrorism has caused," said Fleischer. "But we hope that this verdict will help reduce the anguish and uncertainty that the family members have endured since December 21, 1988 and that they are able to find some solace in the measure of justice achieved by this decision."

Fleischer said the court found "conclusively" that Abdel Basset al-Megrahi "caused an explosive device to detonate on board Pan Am 103," killing all 259 people on the plane, and 11 people on the ground.

The White House noted, with respect to Al-Amin Khalifa Fahima, who was found not guilty, that the court concluded the prosecution did not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

"This does not mean that Fahima is innocent of the crime charged," said Fleischer.

The Bush administration said that Libya must meet certain requirements under the United Nations Security Council resolutions before the air and arms embargo, imposed in 1992, will be permanently lifted. Those requirements, the United States said, include compensating the families of the victims, and accepting responsibility "for this act of terrorism."

"The government of Libya has not yet satisfied these requirements," said Fleischer.

The U.N. sanctions, which also include a ban on the sale of some oil equipment, were suspended in 1999 when Libya turned over the two suspects for trial.

The White House said it would consult "closely" with the United Kingdom and then approach the Libyan government "in the near future" about what next steps it "must take" under the United Nations resolutions.

The United States also has unilateral sanctions against Libya, including sanctions on foreign companies that invest in Libya, imposed by then President Clinton, and sanctions which predate the 1988 bombing.

In 1986, then-President Reagan ordered sanctions on all commercial and financial transactions between Libya and the U.S.

In the statement, President Bush, responding to his first major international development since taking the oath of office 11 days ago, congratulated the Scottish prosecutors, and thanked the Dutch and the U.S. government team who "contributed to this outcome."

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