Prime Minister denies Libya connection to Lockerbie

Published February 24th, 2004 - 03:00 GMT

Libya's prime minister said Tuesday Tripoli played "no part" in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, which claimed the lives of 270 people.

Shukri Ghanem told BBC Radio 4's Today programme his country paid damages to relatives of the Lockerbie bombing victims to "buy peace" and escape sanctions.

For their part, relatives reacted with dismay to the comments, saying they were "out of line" with Libya's previous position. They insisted they had not been bought off, and expected Libya to take responsibility and co-operate with further investigations.

Ghanem's remarks seem to contradict recent, more conciliatory, moves from Libya's foreign minister.

Asked why his government has offered to pay $10m compensation to each of the victims' families of Pan Am flight 103, Ghanem said it was merely an effort to move on following years of crippling economic sanctions, but was no admission of guilt.