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| US court orders Libya to pay $6bn | US court orders Libya to pay $6bn |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A US court has ordered Libya and six Libyan officials to pay more than $6bn (£3bn) in damages over the bombing of a French aircraft over Niger in 1989. | |
| The award is payable to relatives of the seven US victims aboard UTA Flight 772, and the aircraft's American owner. | The award is payable to relatives of the seven US victims aboard UTA Flight 772, and the aircraft's American owner. |
| Libya has already agreed to pay $1m compensation to the relatives of each of the 170 people on board the flight - but has denied any link to the bombing. | Libya has already agreed to pay $1m compensation to the relatives of each of the 170 people on board the flight - but has denied any link to the bombing. |
| It paid compensation over a similar attack over Lockerbie in Scotland. | It paid compensation over a similar attack over Lockerbie in Scotland. |
| This award proves that the rule of law will always prevail over state-sponsored terrorism Stewart Newberger, victims' lawyer | This award proves that the rule of law will always prevail over state-sponsored terrorism Stewart Newberger, victims' lawyer |
| Lawyers for the US victims of UTA 772 say Libya has until 25 February to decide whether to appeal against the order. | Lawyers for the US victims of UTA 772 say Libya has until 25 February to decide whether to appeal against the order. |
| The huge award is made against Libya and six named officials. | The huge award is made against Libya and six named officials. |
| It represents: | It represents: |
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| Under American law, awards against individuals, though not the Libyan state, are tripled because it is a terrorism case. | Under American law, awards against individuals, though not the Libyan state, are tripled because it is a terrorism case. |
| "This award proves that the rule of law will always prevail over state-sponsored terrorism," said Stuart Newberger, a lawyer for the victims' families. | "This award proves that the rule of law will always prevail over state-sponsored terrorism," said Stuart Newberger, a lawyer for the victims' families. |
| The seven US victims included Bonnie Pugh, whose husband Robert was then the US ambassador to Chad. | The seven US victims included Bonnie Pugh, whose husband Robert was then the US ambassador to Chad. |
| Sanctions lifted | Sanctions lifted |
| The Lockerbie compensation deal was part of a package negotiated in secret for months. | The Lockerbie compensation deal was part of a package negotiated in secret for months. |
| It referred to the attack, in 1988, that killed 270 people, including all those on the aircraft and others on the ground. | It referred to the attack, in 1988, that killed 270 people, including all those on the aircraft and others on the ground. |
| Under the deal, Libya restored its ties with the West by promising to renounce terrorism and its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programmes. | Under the deal, Libya restored its ties with the West by promising to renounce terrorism and its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programmes. |
| In return, leading Western states ended Libya's diplomatic isolation. | In return, leading Western states ended Libya's diplomatic isolation. |
| Colonel Gaddafi has opened up and been welcomed by the West | Colonel Gaddafi has opened up and been welcomed by the West |
| Sanctions were lifted, diplomatic relations restored, and high-profile visits and multi-million dollar trade deals followed. | Sanctions were lifted, diplomatic relations restored, and high-profile visits and multi-million dollar trade deals followed. |
| But in the background, this latest compensation case was slowly making its way through the American courts. | But in the background, this latest compensation case was slowly making its way through the American courts. |
| Proceedings began in 2002, and in April last year, a court ruled that Libya was directly responsible for the UTA bombing. | Proceedings began in 2002, and in April last year, a court ruled that Libya was directly responsible for the UTA bombing. |
| The plane was flying from Paris to Chad on 19 September, 1989, when a bomb on a suitcase exploded over the Sahara. All 170 people on board were killed. | The plane was flying from Paris to Chad on 19 September, 1989, when a bomb on a suitcase exploded over the Sahara. All 170 people on board were killed. |
| Much of the evidence came from a criminal case in France, which in 1999 found Libya and the same six officials guilty of blowing up the aircraft. | Much of the evidence came from a criminal case in France, which in 1999 found Libya and the same six officials guilty of blowing up the aircraft. |
| Libya has refused to hand them over to France. | Libya has refused to hand them over to France. |
| In August last year the US court sat for three days to hear evidence over the level of compensation, and the latest ruling is the result of that hearing. | In August last year the US court sat for three days to hear evidence over the level of compensation, and the latest ruling is the result of that hearing. |
| Libya has not said whether it will appeal, but the American lawyers appear confident of getting the money. | Libya has not said whether it will appeal, but the American lawyers appear confident of getting the money. |
| They say that if Libya does not pay up, they will be able to get a court order to obtain it from American companies with which Libya is now doing business. | They say that if Libya does not pay up, they will be able to get a court order to obtain it from American companies with which Libya is now doing business. |