Sanctions extended: discussions continue on bringing suspected bombers to trial.

• Position: United Nations Security Council extends arms and air embargo against Libya; bombing of Pan Am flight 103, December 21, 1988

The arms and air embargo against Libya, in effect since 15 April 1992, was extended by the Security Council on 13 August.

In resolution 748 (1992) of 31 March, by which the embargo was established, the Council decided the sanctions should be reviewed "every 120 days or sooner, should the situation so require".

The embargo prevents Libya from receiving arms and related material of all types, and prohibits air traffic to or from that country. It was imposed after France, the United Kingdom and the United States complained that Libya had failed to respond effectively to their requests for full cooperation in establishing responsibility for the terrorist bombings of Pan Am Flight 103 on 21 December 1988 over Lockerbie in Scotland, in which 270 persons were killed, and of Union de transport aeriens (UTA) Flight 772 on 19 September 1989 in Niger, in which 171 persons died.

In the meantime, discussions continued on ways to bring to trial two Libyan nationals accused of the Pan Am bombing.

In a 13 August tripartite declaration (A/48/314-S/26304), France, the United Kingdom and the United States stated that, in the interest of giving Libya one last chance, they had asked Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to take the necessary steps to achieve the full implementation by the Libyan Government of resolution 731 (1992) within 40 to 45 days.

By resolution 731, adopted unanimously on 21 January, the Council had asked the Secretary-General to seek Libya's cooperation to provide a full and effective response to requests in establishing responsibility for those "terrorist acts" and the resultant loss of lives, "so as to contribute to the elimination of international terrorism".)

If, by 1 October, the Libyan Government had failed to comply with resolutions 731 and 748, "including the transfer to the United States or United Kingdom of jurisdiction of the Lockerbie suspects and compliance with the requests of French justice on UTA 772", the three nations stated, "we will table a resolution strengthening the sanctions in key oil-related financial and technological areas."

The Governments reiterated that they had no hidden agenda; on the contrary, upon full implementation of Council resolutions by Libya, conditions would be met for lifting the sanctions.

Libya ~indignant'

In a 14 August statement (S/26313), Libya said it had spared no effort to comply with international law. It was indignant that the Council had maintained sanctions against Libya despite...