Libya sanctions talks welcomed

The Lockerbie bombing killed 270 people

UK relatives of those who died in the Lockerbie disaster have broadly welcomed news that talks are to begin between the British, US and Libyan governments over the lifting of United Nations sanctions.

Foreign Office Minister Brian Wilson said the New York talks would focus on how Libya could fulfil the remaining stipulations required by the UN Security Council for sanctions to be lifted.

The move comes after Libyan agent Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi was convicted of the Lockerbie bombing two weeks ago.

It is unlikely that any deal will be agreed between the countries until the outcome of Megrahi's appeal is known.

Brian Willson: Libya must satisfy UN requirements

A spokesman for the UK families welcomed the talks saying they were the way forward.

Speaking during a House of Commons debate, Mr Wilson said one of the conditions was for Libya to accept responsibility for the actions of its officials.

He also said the Libyan government had to agree to pay an appropriate level of compensation to the relatives of the victims.

Mr Wilson said: "Libya also needs to satisfy us that it has renounced terrorism and disclosed all it knows of the Lockerbie crime.

"We will be discussing with Libya how we can achieve compliance with all the requirements.

"I can confirm that once satisfactory arrangements have been made we will agree to the lifting of sanctions."

'Diplomatic initiatives'

Mr Wilson took time to praise the efforts of the Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary in its "pursuit of justice" after the criminal investigation into the Lockerbie bombing.

He said: "Without their efforts and the complex diplomatic initiatives, the Lockerbie trial would not have come about."

Earlier, Labour MP Tam Dalyell called on the UK government to resume contact with Libya - despite the Lockerbie trial verdict.

Tam Dalyell says sanctions should be lifted

The MP for Linlithgow demanded that sanctions be lifted.

Mr Dalyell praised the "dignified" reaction of the victims' relatives and called for an independent post-trial inquiry into the bombing after the legal process had concluded.

Libyan agent Megrahi was found guilty of the murders of the 270 victims of the Lockerbie bombing and sentenced to life in prison last month.

He has lodged an appeal against his conviction at the special Scottish court in the Netherlands.

His lawyers say there is nothing to prove that he carried out the bombing of Pam Am Flight 103, which exploded above the Scottish town in 1988.

Libya 'innocent'

And Mr Dalyell agrees with them, saying that he believes Al Megrahi is innocent. He insists it is time sanctions against Libya are removed.

He used the debate at Westminster to call on ministers to resume contact with the government in Tripoli.

The UK Government is limiting its comments until the appeal is concluded.

However, it says that if the conviction is upheld Libya must apologize and pay compensation to relatives of the Lockerbie victims.

Last week Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi condemned the verdict as an "injustice", and insisted "Libya was innocent of Lockerbie".

Colonel Gaddafi claimed the United States and Britain had blamed his country for political reasons and that the pre-trial investigation had not been neutral.

However, both London and Washington say Libya must accept responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and pay compensation to the families of the victims before sanctions can be lifted.

On behalf of the relatives of the Lockerbie victims, Washington wants Libya to pay $740m (£500m) in compensation, or about $3m (£2m) for each victim.

Colonel Gaddafi has dismissed these demands.

Al Megrahi faces a minimum of 20 years in jail if his appeal fails.

His co-accused, Al Amin Khalifa Fahima, was found not guilty and has returned to Libya.