MIAMI, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Gaddafi Terror Victims Initiative praised the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya today for pledging to fully cooperate in assisting international victims and exposing the truth about Muammar Gaddafi's direct role in committing numerous atrocities and crimes against humanity. Crimes include the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 and providing plastic explosives to the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the 1980s for acts of terrorism against civilian populations.

The NTC has provided evidence of Gaddafi's crimes and made clear its commitment to expose the truth about his regime's many nefarious activities. This is the first time since Gaddafi took power 42 years ago that the Libyan people have had an opportunity to speak freely about him and the crimes committed by his regime.

National Transitional Council Chairman Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil's statement is the first evidence given by a Libyan implicating Gaddafi in the Lockerbie atrocity.

"This was a courageous act by NTC Chairman Abdul Jalil in shining the light of truth on this dark period in their country's history," said Victoria Cummock, chair of the Gaddafi Terror Victims Initiative and widow of John B. Cummock who died in the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing.

"It is our deep hope that the NTC swiftly deposes this sociopathic, mass murdering kleptocrat and ushers in a new day of cooperation, peace and reconciliation," said Cummock. "The evidence they have given demonstrates the positive change the NTC represents for Libya."

Abdul Jalil, Libya's former minister of justice, confirmed in a sworn statement his prior statement to the media: "I have personally seen official documents of the Gaddafi regime that directly implicate Gaddafi in the ordering, sanctioning and implementation of the Lockerbie terrorist incident and its subsequent cover up." He promised to provide further evidence so the victims "may discover the truth about how Gaddafi directly murdered their loved ones." Abdul Jalil also testified that the only individual convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, "was involved in this act of terrorism" and received payment from Gaddafi for the Lockerbie attack and subsequent cover-up.

"This is an important first step toward healing wounds that cannot be mended so long as Gaddafi is in power and that were ripped open again in 2009 with the indefensible release of convicted mass murderer al-Megrahi by the Scottish government." Cummock said.

"At the same time, we must express our deep sense of betrayal that the British government, with the approval of our own government, is letting former Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa off 'scot-free,' allowing him to freely travel the world as he pleases despite significant evidence that he played a central role in the Lockerbie bombing plot," Cummock said. "As an NTC spokesman noted, Moussa Koussa 'has too much blood on his hands.' He negotiated the release of al-Megrahi just two years ago. It is an outrage that the current U.K. and U.S. governments are continuing the policy of previous administrations to put the greed of Big Oil ahead of the need for justice among all those harmed by Libyan-sponsored terrorism. And to put him at the table in Qatar in discussions over the future of Libya is a slap in the face to the brave rebels we are supposedly assisting — it's like letting the fox decide the future of the henhouse. This cynical action stands in stark contrast to the good faith demonstrated by the NTC."

Notably, the NTC expressed its desire to "facilitate enquiries by the Lockerbie victims to discover the truth surrounding the Lockerbie tragedy and in particular the culpability of Gaddafi in sanctioning and conspiring in the act of terrorism against innocent people."

"Through this generous act to the international victims of Gaddafi, made all the more remarkable for occurring in the middle of a brutal war, members of the NTC have proven that they practice what they preached in their statement committing themselves to upholding the values of democracy, social justice and international humanitarian law," Cummock added. "This should encourage the international community to provide the new Libya with the recognition and assistance it needs. We look forward to further discussions and cooperation with Libya's democratic forces as the truth continues to come out about the brutality and crimes of the Gaddafi regime."

Gaddafi Terror Victims Initiative

The Gaddafi Terror Victims Initiative includes family members and survivors of those killed and injured by Gaddafi-supported acts of terrorism and crimes against humanity including those killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the bombing of the La Belle discotheque in Germany, the IRA terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom, aboard Pan Am Flight 73, and UTA Flight 772. Statements from Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil are available at www.betrayalforoil.com.  

SOURCE Gaddafi Terror Victims Initiative