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Wednesday, 31 January, 2001, 19:38 GMT
Cheers and tears of US relatives
Victims' relatives have fought for justice for 12 years
By Jane Hughes in New York
For the past nine months, it has become something of a daily ritual for American relatives of those who died in the Lockerbie bombing.
They arrived on Wednesday for the last time, to hear the verdict. The judge's decision, when it came, was a relief for some, a disappointment for others. "There were cheers, but also tears," said Bert Ammerman, whose brother Tom died in the bombing.
"My biggest concern was that they would both be found not guilty, and we would be talking today about conspiracy theories," Mr Ammerman told the BBC. "Our work, our effort, our lobbying, all came to something today. This verdict means a connection has now been made to state-sponsored terrorism." 'You never get your kid back' Mr Ammerman feels the verdict brings to an end a chapter in his life, but for other relatives of victims, it offers little in the way of help in the healing process.
Bob Monetti lost his 20-year-old son Rick, who was one of a number of Syracuse University students travelling back home to the US for Christmas. He is president of the group called Victims of Pan Am Flight 103, which represents about 160 of the American victims. He says it is almost insulting to talk about closure following the verdict.
His organisation is pursuing a civil lawsuit against the Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi, and his security agency, seeking billions of dollars in punitive damages. Their focus will now turn to that case. "The burden of proof in a civil trial is much lower," said Mr Monetti. "This trial has produced more than enough evidence to convict in a US civil court." 'Rogue nation' Other relatives are now looking to the British and American Governments to pursue the masterminds of the Lockerbie bombing. Bert Ammerman called on the new Bush administration to "immediately announce that Libya is a rogue nation, and that Gaddafi is a rogue leader and that we should push in the United Nations to maintain the sanctions and up the ante until Gaddafi is out of power." But, pausing between television interviews, he betrayed a degree of weariness. "I don't expect that from President Bush or Prime Minister Tony Blair," he admitted.
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31 Jan 01 | In Depth
31 Jan 01 | Americas
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