OTTAWA - Canada's government intends to name an independent expert who would decide whether to launch a public inquiry into why no one has been found guilty two decades after 329 people were killed when a bomb ripped through an Air India jumbo jet in June 1985.
"Before I take any action, I want to meet the (victims') families at the start of an ongoing dialogue so we know what questions remain unanswered for them," said Deputy prime minister and minister of public safety Anne McLellan.
Last month two Indian-born Sikhs were last week cleared in court in Vancouver of involvement in the downing of the Boeing 747 off the coast of Ireland. The plane had taken off from Vancouver.
Another bomb had exploded at Japan's Narita airport, killing two baggage handlers transferring suitcases to another Air India flight.
The cost of the criminal probe in Canada and the subsequent trial has been estimated at 100 million dollars (82 million US).
Prosecutors failed to persuade a judge that the two men worked with a Sikh group to build suitcase bombs on Vancouver Island, then planted the explosives on two flights from Vancouver that connected with Air India planes.
04/07/2005 17:44 GMT