Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 14, 1994 TAG: 9407120007
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BEIRUT, LEBANON LENGTH: Medium
The investigating magistrate quickly cast doubt on the claim. Parents of Flight 103 victims also expressed skepticism, speculating it could be an attempt to take international heat off Libya over the bombing that killed 270 people.
The bombing of the jetliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, was first linked to Iran and then to Syria. But U.S. and British authorities later charged two alleged Libyan intelligence agents, and the United Nations Security Council has imposed sanctions on Libya in an attempt to force their extradition for trial.
Youssef Shaaban, 29, is a follower of the Fatah-Revolutionary Council headed by terrorist Abu Nidal, who is believed to be living in Libya. Shaaban offered no details to substantiate his claim to have staged the Pan Am bombing.
``I personally blew up the Lockerbie plane,'' Shaaban told the six-person Judicial Council, the highest trial court in Lebanon. ``I've told the investigating magistrate about it before, but my confession wasn't documented. I say it again now.''
The court, presided over by Judge Philip Khairallah, admitted the confession into the minutes without comment. The trial later recessed for a week.
Examining Magistrate Saeed Mirza, who interrogated Shaaban before charging him in the Jan. 29 assassination of Jordanian diplomat Naeb Imran Maaytah, said the suspect never mentioned the Lockerbie bombing.
``It's a mere lie. Had Youssef Shaaban confessed to such a case that still preoccupies the world, I would have given it utmost priority and investigated promptly,'' Mirza told The Associated Press. ``I believe this confession is for the purpose of deception and aims at misleading the investigation, nothing more.''
He said he was ready to interrogate Shaaban ``and see what information he has on the Pan Am bombing.''
A bomb ripped apart the Pan Am Boeing 747 over Scotland on Dec. 21, 1988, as it flew from London toward New York. All 259 people aboard and 11 people on the ground died.
``It's a very convenient confession that so far seems to have absolutely no validity,'' said Peter Lowenstein of Morristown, N.J., whose 21-year-old son, Alexander, was killed on the plane.
Jim Swire, a spokesman for British relatives of Lockerbie victims, said Shaaban's claim ``should be regarded with grave suspicion.'' Swire's daughter Flora died in the bombing.
Lebanese court sources speculated Shaaban might have been instructed by Abu Nidal to make the claim to help Libya, chief backer of Nidal's terrorist group.
Abdel Basset Ali Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah, both suspected Libyan intelligence agents, have been charged in Britain and the United States in the bombing.
In Washington, Justice Department spokesman Carl Stern said, ``We have no evidence to substantiate the assertion that Shaaban makes.''
A British Foreign Office statement said that ``as we have said many times in the past, we believe there is a case to be answered in a court in Scotland or the United States by the two Libyans.''
The United States and Britain have demanded Libya hand over the two suspects for trial in either country. After Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi refused to comply, the Security Council imposed sanctions against Libya in April 1992.
Abu Nidal is wanted by the United States, European nations and some Arab countries for a long list of atrocities in which hundreds of people have been killed or wounded.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB