Pan Am 103 Bombing Verdict: Libya Reacts
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: More on this story, we're going to go ahead and get reaction from the Libyan capital and reaction to today's split verdict. CNN's Brent Sadler is live. He is in Tripoli today. Brad, hello.</s>BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. First of all, to give you some of the comments that we've heard, as the hours unfolded after the conviction of one of the two Libyans. The foreign ministry spokesman here in the Libyan capital Tripoli said Libya hopes that the ending of the trial will be the beginning a new page between relations between the United States and Libya. The Libyans clearly wanting to detach themselves from any fallout of the result of the conviction of Abdel Baset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi, the evidence against whom was very strong, although it was entirely circumstantial in this case. Now the Libyans have made it quite clear that they now feel that the time is right for an improvement of relations between the Libyans and the United States and the other countries; and that the legal process, as far as they're concerned at the end of the trial, has come to an end. As far as one of the two Libyans are concerned, the one who was acquitted, Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, he's expected home, according to latest Libyan estimates, within the next 24 hours. Those arrangements are still being made as we speak to you. As far as the sanctions issue is concerned, Libya now wants to see those dropped in the coming months. It feels that it has complied with the process of the law that has resulted in this conviction of mass murder of one of those two Libyans. And now, Colonel Qadhafi, the Libyan leader, did, by allowing these two Libyans to be handed over some 20 -- 19, 20 months ago, put at risk the implications of his regime in any murder conviction that's now taking place. But the Libyans quite clearly are trying to stress that they do not expect any political repercussion as a result of what happened in the Netherlands today. The mood on the streets is very much one of embarrassment and disbelief, according to some Libyans that I have spoken to already, that there has been a conviction of one of the two men. We will have to see how the upper levels of the leadership respond to this, if at all, in the coming days. One thing that's worth noting is that the Libyans have allowed a large number of international media to assemble in the capital. And these journalists, including CNN, are arriving now as I speak to you. So we will have to wait and see whether or not the very top of the leadership here, Colonel Qadhafi himself, has anything to say, as a result, what's -- what's happened at Camp Zeist. Back to you, Daryn.</s>KAGAN: All right, our Brent Sadler reporting live from Tripoli, thank you very much. Just minutes ago, President Bush had comments on the verdict that came about Pan Am Flight 103. He made it during a Ways and Means Committee meeting. Let's go ahead and listen in to the president.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I also appreciate so very much the Scottish court has made a decision and convicted a member of the Libyan Intelligence Service for the 1998 bombing of Pan Am 103. I appreciate the work of the United States government team, which contributed to this guilty verdict. Nothing can change the suffering and loss of this terrible act. But I hope that the families do find some solace that a guilty verdict was rendered. I want to assure the families and the victims, the United States government will continue to pressure Libya, to accept responsibility for this act, and to compensate the families. Thank you all for coming.</s>KAGAN: All right, that's President Bush, once again, having comments on the verdict coming out today on the Pan Am 10 -- Flight 103 verdict. Let's go ahead and bring in our Kelly Wallace who is at the White House -- Kelly.</s>KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, some brief remarks from President Bush in that meeting with House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee lawmakers. The president saying that he does hope the families do find some solace, that a guilt -- in that a guilty verdict was rendered. The president also saying that the United States government would continue to press Libya to accept responsibility for this act, and to compensate the families of the victims. Now, earlier on this day, the White House did issue a paper statement. That from Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. The position from the White House is that it, along with the United Kingdom, made clear to Libya, that a verdict, in and of itself, did not signify an end to the United Nations sanctions against Libya. Those sanctions were suspended back in 1989 when Libya turned over the two suspects for trial. But Libya has been pressing for those sanctions, which include an air-and-arms embargo against Libya to be permanently lifted. The U.S. saying that Libya must satisfy some other requirements before those sanctions are permanently lifted, including, as President Bush just mentioned, compensating the victims' families and accepting responsibility, as well as renouncing terrorism. So Daryn, this White House, which is just about 11 years old, is confronting its first major international development. The president talking to reporters just a short time ago -- Daryn.</s>KAGAN: Kelly Wallace, thank you very much. Kelly Wallace at the White House.