A Senior member of the Libyan government has provoked outrage with comments that the Lockerbie trial has healed relations between his country and Britain and the US. Hamed El Houden, one of Libya's most senior diplomats, said that Libya was confident that the two accused - Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and Al
Amin Khalifa Fhimah - were innocent.

El Houden last week attended the specially convened Scottish court, which is sitting at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands. He said no evidence had been given that proved that Libya was behind the bombing of PanAm flight 103 over Lockerbie, which caused the deaths of 270 people on December 21, 1988.

El Houden, who is Libya's ambassador to the Benelux countries, added: "Without question, this trial has significantly improved relations between my country and Britain and America. I do not envisage these relations deteriorating again. One should also say that there has been nothing said in this court that confirms that my country had anything to do with the Lockerbie bombing. I have every confidence in this court in recognising that fact."

His comments have outraged relatives of the Lockerbie dead. Many - such as New Jersey couple Dan and Susan Cohen, who lost their young daughter Theo
- believe that the real reason for the staging of the trial was to pave the way for the re-opening of relations between Libya and the west so that Britain and the United States could exploit the Arab country's rich oil fields.

Susan Cohen said: "Britain and America couldn't wait to jump into bed with Gadaffi. Libya was behind the bombing of PanAm 103. It was an act of war against the United States yet, even before the trial is over, we are seeing the West cosying up to Libya for the sake of oil money. "This makes a mockery of justice. It shows the real motive behind the setting-up of the trial was always to provide the ways and means for the West and Libya to return to friendly relations."

Joshua Hilbert - whose father Rodney from Pennsylvania died on board flight 103 - said that the case was a "show trial". He added: "This trial exists to provide the illusion of justice. If this trial really wanted to see justice done, it would have the men who ordered the bombing in the dock. "Whether Fhimah and Megrahi are guilty or innocent, we all know that they were not the brains behind the bombing. If they did do it, then they were merely the facilitators of someone else's plan."

The defence submissions in the trial will end by Thursday at the latest. The panel of three judges could then bring in a verdict the next day. However, a verdict is unlikely until at least a week after the case closes. Rumours are rife that the judges are split two to one in favour of acquittal.