Libya anxious to forget Lockerbie

Ordinary Libyans say they have already been punished

By Nick Pelham in Tripoli

The tightly-controlled state media in Libya is maintaining a studied silence on the reopening of the Lockerbie trial in The Hague.

This is in contrast to the 10 years of sanctions on Libya when the Lockerbie affair dominated the headlines.

Satellite dishes sprout across Tripoli giving access to foreign outlets of news, but Libyans say it is too dangerous to comment.

Most are anxious to forget the Lockerbie affair.

They say whatever the outcome of the trial, they have already been punished.

Ordinary people 'punished'

During the 10 years of United Nations sanctions, the Lockerbie affair dominated headlines in Libya.

Then, as now, there was anger that, as Libyans see it, the UN presumed them all guilty and punished Libya before the case came to trial.

But Libyans now also question whether the price of refusing to hand over the two men for so long was worth paying.

Since the suspension of sanctions last year, electronic goods have flooded into the capital.

American computers take pride of place in shop windows alongside banners heralding the glory of the 31-year-old revolution.

Libyans can now also fly out of their country. But while the suspension of sanctions has brought economic reform, observers say there has been little political liberalisation.

The Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, says his country has changed - but difficulties remain, and young people are still desperate for visas to leave.