Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 20, 1992 TAG: 9203200147
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
State Department spokeswoman Margaret Tutwiler said the United States is strongly urging the 500 to 1,000 American citizens in Libya to leave as soon as possible. Most are oil workers.
She said Libya had ignored a Jan. 21 Security Council resolution demanding a "full and effective" response to U.S. and British demands for the surrender of two Libyan agents wanted in the Pan Am bombing.
The jumbo jet went down over Scotland in December 1988, killing 270 people.
"The government of Libya has not complied with the requirements of U.N. Security Council Resolution 731. Instead, Libya has attempted to delay and divert attention from the fundamental issue," Tutwiler said.
She said the air embargo would remain in effect until Libya complies with Resolution 731.
Tutwiler was unable to answer questions about enforcement of the air embargo resolution if it is approved or whether violators would face penalties.
A State Department list indicates 25 foreign airlines have regular flights into Libya. The carriers are from Russia, Algeria, Malta, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Netherlands, South Korea, Poland, Germany, Lebanon, Greece, Pakistan, Morocco, Jordan, the Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Romania, Tunisia, Turkey and Yugoslavia.
Reports of the proposal by the three council members have circulated for days at the United Nations. Libyan Ambassador Ali Ahmed Elhouderi said Tuesday the proposal was close to an act of war.
In an attempt to head off sanctions, Libya said Thursday it has named a new judge in its investigation of charges against the two Libyans sought in the Pan Am case.
The change was an apparent effort by Libya to dispel the idea it was unwilling to help investigate the charges.
The two suspects are alleged intelligence agents. U.S. and British authorities have said that only extradition would satisfy them.
The United States and Britain are mainly interested in resolving the Pan Am case, while France is demanding resolution of a case involving the bombing of a French UTA airliner over Niger in 1989. It has issued warrants for four Libyan intelligence officials, including a brother-in-law of Gadhafi's.
In the Pan Am bombing, Washington and London are seeking the surrender of Abdel Basset Ali Megrahi, 39, and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah, 35, for trial in either the United States or Scotland.
Libya has denied involvement in the bombing and said it will not surrender the suspects.
Since 1981, U.S. passports have not been valid for travel to Libya unless the government issues an exception. In addition, U.S. citizens are barred from having financial transactions with Libya.
by CNB