Libya to compensate Berlin bomb victims
A charity headed by the son of Libyan leader Muammar al-Qadhafi has pledged to compensate the victims of a 1986 bombing of a German disco.
Two US soldiers and a Turkish woman were killed and more than 200 people were injured in the Berlin bombing which led to a US bombing campaign against Libyan cities.
The Al-Qadhafi International Foundation for Charity Associations said on Thursday it is hoping to meet victims and their families to reach a quick and simple solution.
“However, this humanitarian initiative is not recognition or acceptance of responsibility for this act from any side whatsoever,” said the charity, which is led by al-Qadhafi’s son Saif al-Islam.
German news magazine Der Spiegel reported earlier this month that Libya had told the German government it was ready to make payments to non-American victims of the bombing.
However, the foundation declined to give details of who would receive compensation.
A Berlin court ruled in 2001 that the Libyan secret service was behind the attack, which occurred a month after the US sank two Libyan patrol boats in the Gulf of Sirte.
A group campaigning for compensation said it welcomed the charity’s statement.
Lawyers representing non-American victims said they were seeking 500,000 euros for each injured person.
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Two hundred and seventy people |
The move came after Libya accepted responsibility “for the actions of its officials” in the bombing of an airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.
Last week it transferred $2.7 billion to the Bank for International Settlements to compensate the families of the 270 people who died when the plane was blown up.