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Lockerbie papers to be published Lockerbie papers to be published
(about 4 hours later)
The Scottish Government is due to publish documents it says justify the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds.The Scottish Government is due to publish documents it says justify the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds.
Terminally ill Libyan Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on 20 August.Terminally ill Libyan Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on 20 August.
The Holyrood documents are expected to include details of a meeting in Greenock Prison between Megrahi and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.The Holyrood documents are expected to include details of a meeting in Greenock Prison between Megrahi and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.
Westminster sources indicated on Monday the UK government will also publish all correspondence with Scottish ministers. Westminster sources indicated on Monday the UK government would publish all correspondence with Scottish ministers.
The sources said the communications indicate there was no discussion of compassionate release of prisoners and would support the UK government's position that no deals were done with Libya to secure Megrahi's freedom. The sources say the communications indicate there was no discussion of compassionate release of prisoners and support the UK government's position that no deals were done with Libya to secure Megrahi's freedom.
UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw has previously described reports that the bomber was released over an oil deal as "wholly untrue".UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw has previously described reports that the bomber was released over an oil deal as "wholly untrue".
Outrage at this has crossed continents and damaged our relationship with our closest ally, America. It has been a fiasco David Cameron Libya to mark Gaddafi anniversaryOutrage at this has crossed continents and damaged our relationship with our closest ally, America. It has been a fiasco David Cameron Libya to mark Gaddafi anniversary
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said the Westminster government was keen to emphasise there was no secret deal with Libya, following negative newspaper stories at the weekend. BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says the Westminster government is keen to emphasise there was no secret deal with Libya, following negative newspaper stories at the weekend.
"And they are equally anxious to prove that they did not place pressure on the Scottish government to allow the only man to be convicted of the Lockerbie bombing to return home on compassionate grounds."And they are equally anxious to prove that they did not place pressure on the Scottish government to allow the only man to be convicted of the Lockerbie bombing to return home on compassionate grounds.
"They believe that by making all relevant documents public today, they will strengthen that case.""They believe that by making all relevant documents public today, they will strengthen that case."
It has yet to become clear exactly which documents will be released or excluded.It has yet to become clear exactly which documents will be released or excluded.
'Relations damaged' In an interview with the Financial Times, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that, when he met Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi at the G8 summit a month before Megrahi's release, he had stressed the fate of Megrahi was a matter solely for the Scottish authorities.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that when he met Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi at the G8 summit a month before Megrahi's release, he had stressed the fate of Megrahi was a matter solely for the Scottish authorities. Mr Brown said: "I made it absolutely clear to him... it was a matter for the Scottish Executive and it was their decision, and their decision alone, that would decide it."
Mr Brown said: "I made it absolutely clear to him... it was a matter for the Scottish Executive, and it was their decision, and their decision alone that would decide it." The question is, is it all the documents involved? Ed DaveyLib Dem foreign affairs spokesman
Meanwhile, David Cameron has renewed pressure on Mr Brown to say whether he agrees that Megrahi should have been released.Meanwhile, David Cameron has renewed pressure on Mr Brown to say whether he agrees that Megrahi should have been released.
The Conservative leader said the decision to free the Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds was "inappropriate".The Conservative leader said the decision to free the Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds was "inappropriate".
He told the Times: "Decisions concerning the fate of criminals, not least those responsible for mass murder, often provoke widespread public anger.He told the Times: "Decisions concerning the fate of criminals, not least those responsible for mass murder, often provoke widespread public anger.
"But the outrage at this one has crossed continents and damaged our relationship with our closest ally, America. It has been a fiasco.""But the outrage at this one has crossed continents and damaged our relationship with our closest ally, America. It has been a fiasco."
The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, Ed Davey, welcomed the chance to see the correspondence.
But he added: "The question is, is it all the documents involved?
"Will we still have to have some sort of Foreign Affairs Select Committee inquiry, so ministers can actually be questioned, so we can get some of the background to the letters and to any conversations that were held?"
Last-minute permission
The publication of documents in Scotland comes ahead of a government-led Holyrood debate on Wednesday, amid strong opposition criticism of the early release decision.The publication of documents in Scotland comes ahead of a government-led Holyrood debate on Wednesday, amid strong opposition criticism of the early release decision.
The final list of documents to be made public will depend on last-minute permission from third parties.The final list of documents to be made public will depend on last-minute permission from third parties.
Health reports
Minutes of other meetings and correspondence with some of the families of the 270 people who died in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie may also be released.Minutes of other meetings and correspondence with some of the families of the 270 people who died in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie may also be released.
And parole board reports may also be published, which would be unprecedented.And parole board reports may also be published, which would be unprecedented.
Ministers previously released the report by the Prison Service's director of health, but the disclosure of further medical details is thought to be unlikely, on patient confidentiality grounds. Ministers previously released a report by the Prison Service's director of health, but the disclosure of further medical details is thought to be unlikely, on patient confidentiality grounds.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has published details of a motion for Wednesday's debate, which notes the decision to grant Megrahi compassionate release and reject a prisoner transfer to Libya was consistent with the principles of the Scottish justice system. Inflict defeat
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has published details of a motion for Wednesday's debate, which notes that the decision to grant Megrahi compassionate release and reject a prisoner transfer to Libya was consistent with the principles of the Scottish justice system.
Opposition parties will attempt to amend the motion and inflict a defeat on Scottish ministers over the issue.Opposition parties will attempt to amend the motion and inflict a defeat on Scottish ministers over the issue.
Megrahi was freed after serving eight years of a life sentence for the bombing, which led to Pan Am flight 103 exploding over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988.Megrahi was freed after serving eight years of a life sentence for the bombing, which led to Pan Am flight 103 exploding over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988.
The decision to release Megrahi, who was given a hero's welcome when he arrived back in Libya, has divided opinion at home and abroad.The decision to release Megrahi, who was given a hero's welcome when he arrived back in Libya, has divided opinion at home and abroad.
The controversy has led to many Western leaders staying away from celebrations in Libya getting under way this week to mark 40 years since the coup that brought Colonel Gaddafi to power. The controversy has prompted many Western leaders to stay away from celebrations in Libya this week to mark 40 years since the coup that brought Colonel Gaddafi to power.