US court orders Libya to pay $6bn

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

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.

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.
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Lawyers for the US victims of UTA 772 say Libya has until 25 February to decide whether to appeal against the order.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7191278.stm

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I think there's a mis-print and it should read $6bn <£3bn>

[Deny and Shred]

1. Ordered to pay not by an International, but US court?

"agreed to pay (millions in) compensation...but has denied any link to the bombing." Did Libya hire Michael Jackson's legal team?

Does this mean the US can be made to pay damages by foreign courts? Didn't Reagan blow up a Libyan oil platform in his first term? Iraq, Nicaragua, Panama, Chile, Vietnam, among many others, might want to get in on that action.

[boricua79]

5. you're right

it's absurd that an American court expects a foreign government to pay...when the U.S. hasn't paid for the MUCH larger damage it has inflicted on several countries' property, covertly and overtly.

I think the legal decision is more geared toward giving legal legitimacy to "freezing" of assets associated with Libya, to pay off the victims. It makes it harder for the Libyan government to do business in situations where they're assets will be seized by the U.S. government to be given to the victims. Kinda like the Goldman's with Simpson...whatever he makes, they want a cut or all of it to pay off their civil suit.

[flasoapbox]

2. Christ, how many planes did the Libyans blow up in the 80's?

6 billion's a lot, too!

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Funny, ain't it? Our courts can rule against a foreign country on behalf of a US citizen, but

claim they can't hear cases from foreigners being held in US prisons.

[The Stranger]

4. And funny that they can't rule in favor of a U.S. citizen against an international corporation.

The GOP/Neocons/Dominionists have the courts.

[LynnTheDem]

6. Iraq Court Orders US To Pay For Bombing Entire Country

Oh wait, I forgot, it's ok when we kill, coz we're the "good guys".