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Gaddafi son resists IRA pay-out | Gaddafi son resists IRA pay-out |
(30 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". | Compensation campaigners welcomed Mr Gaddafi's remarks as a "positive sign of engagement". |
On Sunday the relatives also welcomed Gordon Brown's announcement 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. |
The move was seen by opposition MPs as an U-turn, which had left Britain looking "weak". | |
'Sign of engagement' | |
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". | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. |
Also in the interview with Sky News, Mr Gaddafi said Gordon Brown had not been involved in talks over the release of the Lockerbie bomber. | |
And he condemned British opposition politicians as "disgusting and immoral" for using the case of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi to make political capital. | |
"They are trying to use this human tragedy for their own political agenda," he said. | |
"It's completely immoral to use this case to advance your own political agenda." | |
Earlier on Sunday, Conservative foreign affairs spokesman William Hague said Gordon Brown's change of mind was a "stunning admission" that the government had failed to support the families of the victims of IRA terrorism. | |
He said: "The British government should have provided active support as a matter of course, not as a result of public pressure. | |
"But Gordon Brown and the government he leads have long lost their moral compass." |