Lockerbie bombing 25 years on

Britain, the United States and Libya issued a joint statement as memorial events were held in the UK and the US to mark the 25th anniversary of the attack on the aircraft: "On the 25th anniversary of the bombing of Pan American flight 103 over Lockerbie on 21 December 1988, the governments of Libya, the United Kingdom and United States of America reiterate their deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this terrible crime," the joint statement read.

All 243 passengers and 16 crew on board died. Eleven people were killed in their homes as the plane crashed to the ground in Lockerbie.

Libya admitted responsibility for the bombing in 2003 and the Moammar Gadhafi regime paid compensation to victims' families but the incident has left many questions unanswered.

In the joint statement, the three governments said: "We want all those responsible for this most brutal act of terrorism brought to justice, and to understand why it was committed." It added: "We are committed to co-operate fully in order to reveal the full facts of the case."

The Scottish prosecution service announced last week that Libya had appointed two prosecutors to work on the investigation into the bombing. On Saturday Britain, the US and Libya confirmed their support for the investigation team: "We are striving to further deepen our co-operation and welcome the visit by UK and US investigators to Libya in the near future to discuss all aspects of that co-operation, including sharing of information and documents and access to witnesses."

In the United States, a service of "hope and remembrance" was scheduled on Saturday at the Hendricks Chapel of Syracuse University in New York state. Thirty five students from the college were on board Pan Am 103. US Attorney General Eric Holder and Scottish officials were set to attend a memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.

jm/ccp (AFP, Reuters)