AN MD88 CREW; AFTER DEPARTING CVG; EXPERIENCED AN AIR CONDITIONING HIGH TEMP LIGHT AND THE SMELL OF SMOKE IN THE CABIN.

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PASSING 3000 FT AFTER TKOF FROM CVG; THE 'L AIR CONDITIONING TEMP HIGH' LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WE FOLLOWED OPERATING MANUAL PROCS FOR THAT. WE THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE FLT ATTENDANTS INFORMING US THERE HAD BEEN A STRONG SMELL IN THE BACK AND THAT THE AFT R LAVATORY SMOKE DETECTOR HAD SOUNDED. HOWEVER; THEY ALSO RPTED THAT THE DETECTOR STOPPED SOUNDING AND THE SMELL BEGAN TO DISSIPATE AFTER OPENING THE UNDER SINK DOOR. AT THAT POINT; WE CALLED ATL MAINT. WHILE TALKING TO MAINT; WE RECEIVED ANOTHER CALL FROM THE FLT ATTENDANTS STATING THAT THE SMELL HAD RETURNED. WE GOT CLRNC TO RETURN; STOPPED OUR CLB AND BEGAN A TURNING DSCNT TOWARD CVG. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER; THE FLT ATTENDANTS CALLED AGAIN TO TELL US THE SMELL WAS GETTING STRONGER AND THAT A DEADHEADING CREW WAS OF THE OPINION THE SMELL WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. WE DECLARED AN EMER; STARTED THE POM PROC FOR SMOKE AND FUMES REMOVAL; AND BEGAN AN EMER DSCNT INTO SDF; WHICH WAS ALMOST UNDER THE NOSE. WE KEPT ATC INFORMED OF OUR INTENTIONS. DURING THE DSCNT; I TURNED THE L PACK OFF. THE CABIN ALT BEGAN CLBING AND AT APPROX 15000 FT THE OXYGEN MASKS DEPLOYED. THE REMAINDER OF THE APCH AND LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. WE STOPPED ON THE RWY AND DEPLANED THE PAX OUT THE AFT AIRSTAIRS.