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Salmond denies Megrahi trade deal Salmond denies Megrahi trade deal
(about 2 hours later)
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has denied that the release of the Lockerbie bomber had any links to UK trade talks with the Libyan government.Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has denied that the release of the Lockerbie bomber had any links to UK trade talks with the Libyan government.
Letters leaked to a newspaper show UK ministers agreed to include him in a prisoner transfer deal in 2007 because of "overwhelming national interests".Letters leaked to a newspaper show UK ministers agreed to include him in a prisoner transfer deal in 2007 because of "overwhelming national interests".
Mr Salmond said Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds with no London involvement.Mr Salmond said Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds with no London involvement.
But the Tories and Lib Dems want an inquiry into UK dealings with Libya. The UK denies any "back-door deals" but opposition parties want an inquiry.
Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill released Megrahi on 20 August, eight years into his 27-year sentence for murdering 270 people in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103.Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill released Megrahi on 20 August, eight years into his 27-year sentence for murdering 270 people in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am 103.
The British government has always maintained the decision to release Megrahi rested with Scotland, but revelations in the Sunday Times will fuel suspicions about the motivations behind his release, BBC correspondent Norman Smith says.The British government has always maintained the decision to release Megrahi rested with Scotland, but revelations in the Sunday Times will fuel suspicions about the motivations behind his release, BBC correspondent Norman Smith says.
'Straight answers' 'Simply nonsense'
Leaked ministerial letters reveal Mr Straw's change of stance over Megrahi's inclusion in the prisoner transfer agreement (PTA), which allegedly came at a crucial time in negotiations over an oil exploration contract for BP worth billions of pounds.Leaked ministerial letters reveal Mr Straw's change of stance over Megrahi's inclusion in the prisoner transfer agreement (PTA), which allegedly came at a crucial time in negotiations over an oil exploration contract for BP worth billions of pounds.
Labour ministers will not now escape the suspicion of a terrorist-for-trade deal unless they agree to the transparency of a full inquiry Liberal Democrats Labour ministers will not now escape the suspicion of a terrorist-for-trade deal unless they agree to the transparency of a full inquiry Liberal Democrats class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8229338.stm">Mandela supports Lockerbie release
According to the Sunday Times, Mr Straw wrote to his Scottish counterpart Kenny MacAskill on 19 December 2007 and said: "I had previously accepted the importance of the al-Megrahi issue to Scotland and said I would try to get an exclusion for him on the face of the agreement. I have not been able to secure an explicit exclusion.According to the Sunday Times, Mr Straw wrote to his Scottish counterpart Kenny MacAskill on 19 December 2007 and said: "I had previously accepted the importance of the al-Megrahi issue to Scotland and said I would try to get an exclusion for him on the face of the agreement. I have not been able to secure an explicit exclusion.
"The wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and, in view of the overwhelming interests for the UK, I have agreed that in this instance the [PTA] should be in the standard form and not mention any individual.""The wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and, in view of the overwhelming interests for the UK, I have agreed that in this instance the [PTA] should be in the standard form and not mention any individual."
Mr Straw denies the prisoner accord was linked to an oil deal, saying the negotiations were aimed at normalising relations between the UK and Libya. Mr Straw denies the prisoner accord was linked to an oil deal, saying the negotiations were aimed at improving relations between the UK and Libya, after the country gave up its weapons of mass destruction.
He told the BBC's The World This Weekend such allegations were "simply untrue" and "simply nonsense".
"The suggestion that at any stage there was some kind of back-door deal done over Mr Megrahi's transfer because of trade is simply untrue," he said.
He said everyone involved in the prisoner transfer deal knew only Scotland had the power to release Mr Megrahi.
'Straight answers'
Edward Davey, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said the prime minister could "no longer hide behind" the Scottish government's compassion for a "sick man".Edward Davey, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said the prime minister could "no longer hide behind" the Scottish government's compassion for a "sick man".
"Labour ministers will not now escape the suspicion of a terrorist-for-trade deal unless they agree to the transparency of a full inquiry," he said."Labour ministers will not now escape the suspicion of a terrorist-for-trade deal unless they agree to the transparency of a full inquiry," he said.
David Lidington, the Conservatives' foreign affairs spokesman, said it was time "to get to the bottom of what actually went wrong in our name".David Lidington, the Conservatives' foreign affairs spokesman, said it was time "to get to the bottom of what actually went wrong in our name".
"We certainly need straight answers and the publication of documents by the government now, but I think it's probably gone beyond the stage when people are going to trust the word of the current crew of ministers as to what actually happened.""We certainly need straight answers and the publication of documents by the government now, but I think it's probably gone beyond the stage when people are going to trust the word of the current crew of ministers as to what actually happened."
The BBC's political correspondent Norman Smith said the story would fuel the suspicions of those who felt the "bottom line" was oil.The BBC's political correspondent Norman Smith said the story would fuel the suspicions of those who felt the "bottom line" was oil.
The letters, he added, also suggested the British government was a good deal more involved in the release, and they were prepared to see him released under the transfer accord.The letters, he added, also suggested the British government was a good deal more involved in the release, and they were prepared to see him released under the transfer accord.
'Commercial contracts''Commercial contracts'
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said it was a matter of record that his administration had opposed the prisoner transfer agreement between Westminster and Tripoli.Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said it was a matter of record that his administration had opposed the prisoner transfer agreement between Westminster and Tripoli.
"We didn't think that the Lockerbie decision should be linked to trade or oil decisions by anyone who looked at the coincidence that the prisoner transfer agreement was being negotiated at the same time as commercial contracts," he told the BBC."We didn't think that the Lockerbie decision should be linked to trade or oil decisions by anyone who looked at the coincidence that the prisoner transfer agreement was being negotiated at the same time as commercial contracts," he told the BBC.
All this, however, is academic as Mr Megrahi was not released under the PTA treaty but quite separately by the Scottish Executive on compassionate grounds Jack StrawAll this, however, is academic as Mr Megrahi was not released under the PTA treaty but quite separately by the Scottish Executive on compassionate grounds Jack Straw
Despite opposition on both sides of the Atlantic, the SNP leader added there was "huge international support" for the Scottish government's decision.Despite opposition on both sides of the Atlantic, the SNP leader added there was "huge international support" for the Scottish government's decision.
He said the most recent endorsement had come from former South African President Nelson Mandela, who he described as a "towering figure of humanitarian concern across the world in the last generation".He said the most recent endorsement had come from former South African President Nelson Mandela, who he described as a "towering figure of humanitarian concern across the world in the last generation".
Mr Straw has denied suggestions that the release was linked to Britain's commercial interests. In a statement, Mr Straw said the Scottish government had wanted Megrahi removed from the prisoner transfer agreement.
"The negotiations over a prisoner transfer agreement were part of a wider agreement for the normalisation of relations with Libya as part of bringing them into the international community," he said.
"It was always made clear to the Libyans that, as with all other such agreements, the sentencing jurisdiction - in this case Scotland - had a right to veto any individual application, including that of any application from Mr Megrahi.
"Not withstanding ministers' right of veto, the Scottish Executive wanted a specific carve-out from the PTA treaty in respect of Mr Megrahi. I gave instructions to British negotiators to try to secure this."Not withstanding ministers' right of veto, the Scottish Executive wanted a specific carve-out from the PTA treaty in respect of Mr Megrahi. I gave instructions to British negotiators to try to secure this.
"However, such an exclusion went beyond the standard form of PTA treaties and in the event an agreement for a PTA in the standard form - including the rights of veto of any application - was agreed."However, such an exclusion went beyond the standard form of PTA treaties and in the event an agreement for a PTA in the standard form - including the rights of veto of any application - was agreed.
"All this, however, is academic as Mr Megrahi was not released under the PTA treaty but quite separately by the Scottish Executive on compassionate grounds. "All this, however, is academic as Mr Megrahi was not released under the PTA treaty but quite separately by the Scottish Executive on compassionate grounds. The Scottish Executive also refused his PTA application."
"The Scottish Executive also refused his PTA application. This process was made clear at every stage to Libyan negotiators."