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| Gaddafi son resists IRA pay-out | |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has said his country will resist demands from the families of IRA victims for compensation. | The son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has said his country will resist demands from the families of IRA victims for compensation. |
| Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said any claims for compensation based on Libya's supply of explosives to the IRA would be a matter for "the courts". | Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said any claims for compensation based on Libya's supply of explosives to the IRA would be a matter for "the courts". |
| He told Sky News: "They have their lawyers, we have our lawyers." | He told Sky News: "They have their lawyers, we have our lawyers." |
| Compensation campaigners welcomed Mr Gaddafi's remarks as a "positive sign of engagement". | |
| On Sunday the relatives also welcomed Gordon Brown's "U-turn" on the government's support for compensation. | |
| Mr Gaddafi's comments came hours after Mr Brown announced that he was setting up a dedicated Foreign Office team to assist the IRA families' victims. | Mr Gaddafi's comments came hours after Mr Brown announced that he was setting up a dedicated Foreign Office team to assist the IRA families' victims. |
| Speaking about the looming British attempts to claim compensation, the Libyan leader's son said: "Anyone can knock on our door. You go to the court." | Speaking about the looming British attempts to claim compensation, the Libyan leader's son said: "Anyone can knock on our door. You go to the court." |
| And when asked if his answer to the compensation demand would be "no" in the first instance, he replied: "Of course." | And when asked if his answer to the compensation demand would be "no" in the first instance, he replied: "Of course." |
| The response by Mr Gaddafi - seen by many as the most likely successor to his father's leadership - was welcomed by campaigners as a sign of Libyan "engagement". | |
| Victims' families' lawyer Jason McCue said: "I am optimistic about the Libyan response. | |
| "It means they have decided to engage with us whereas previously there was no engagement. | |
| "We always expected this to go to the courts and now it means there will be a process to getting compensation." | |
| The families had previously welcomed the prime minister's change of mind over whether or not it was "appropriate" to put pressure on Libya. | The families had previously welcomed the prime minister's change of mind over whether or not it was "appropriate" to put pressure on Libya. |