July 2, 1999
Web posted at: 7:34 p.m. EDT (2334 GMT)

In this story: Trial plays key role Growing support for Libya RELATED STORIES, SITES

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Security Council Friday that he could not determine whether Libya had met U.N. conditions for the lifting of sanctions imposed after the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

The sanctions -- which banned arms sales and international air links -- were suspended on April 5, after Libya handed over two suspects to stand trial before a Scottish court in the Netherlands.

At the time of the suspension, the Security Council asked Annan to report within 90 days on whether Libya had met requirements for the permanent lifting of sanctions.

U.N. resolutions require Libya to denounce terrorism, cooperate with the prosecution in the trial, and pay compensation to the families of the bombing victims if the two men are convicted.

Trial plays key role

The suspects are accused of planting a suitcase bomb aboard the Pan Am jet, killing 270 people when it exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988.

270 people were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded

Because the trial has been postponed until February 2000, Annan said in a written report that he was "not in a position to provide factual information" on Libya's compliance with that investigation.

But Annan did note several instances in which Libya denounced terrorism. He also said that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi had invited international monitors to see for themselves whether any so-called terrorist camps existed in Libya.

His report was presented to the Security Council, where the United States has vowed to block any measure that would permanently lift the sanctions.

"We do not believe that the council can agree to lift the sanctions at this point because there are several requirements that relate to cooperation with the investigation and the trial that are embedded in the resolutions," said acting U.S. Ambassador Peter Burleigh.

"At a time like this we think it's premature."

Growing support for Libya

But U.S. officials did acknowledge that their position is fast becoming an isolated one among Security Council members.

In his report, Annan noted that the United States wanted further evidence of compliance but said that Britain viewed Libya's readiness to answer questions about terrorism as a "positive step" towards lifting sanctions.

British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock said he was reviewing the report, but hadn't received instructions on whether Britain could support lifting the sanctions.

Libya has rallied African and Arab support to have the sanctions lifted.

At a meeting in Burkina Faso on Thursday, ministers from the Organization of the Islamic Conference urged the Security Council on Monday "to take immediate steps to lift the embargo once and for all."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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