Libya had been diplomatically isolated and subject to international sanctions since the November 1991 indictment of two Libyans for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 on 21 December 1988 ( the Lockerbie bombing ) . Following Ghanem 's appointment as prime minister , Libya successfully sought re-entry into the international community and the lifting of sanctions . Ghanem was seen as the main spokesman and architect of this rapprochement , which included paying $ 2.16 billion compensation in August 2003 to the families of the 270 people who died in the bombing , and renouncing weapons of mass destruction
Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103
Shukri Ghanem