The United States and Libya agreed on a compensation deal for victims of terrorism and other attacks. The deal signed Thursday does not include an admission of wrongdoing by either side.
“The agreement is designed to provide rapid recovery of fair compensation for American nationals with terrorism-related claims against Libya,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement. “It will also address Libyan claims arising from previous U.S. military actions.” The deal is aimed at settling 26 pending lawsuits against Libya for its alleged involvement in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, among other attacks, as well as three outstanding Libyan lawsuits against the United States for 1986 bombing raids.
It clears the way for full diplomatic relations between the United States and Libya. Some family members of victims said the agreement was inadequate because it does not include justice for Libyan officials allegedly behind the Pan Am bombing.
“They allow this horrible terrorist who murdered my daughter and all these other people to triumph,” Susan Cohen, the mother of Lockerbie bombing victim Theodora Cohen, told The Associated Press. “This is a triumph for terrorism.”
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