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Straw 'changed mind over bomber' 'Fears' over bomber prison death
(29 minutes later)
Jack Straw changed his mind about excluding the Lockerbie bomber from a proposed prisoner transfer agreement with Libya, letters have shown. A British minister told Libya that Gordon Brown and David Miliband did not want the Lockerbie bomber to die in prison, according to Libyan officials.
According to newly-released documents the foreign office minister Bill Rammell made the comments on a visit to Tripoli in February this year.
The Libyan minister for europe reported the comments in a meeting with Scottish Government officials on March 12.
Terminally ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on 20 August.
Both the UK and Scottish governments have made public letters and other documents relating to the release terminally-ill Megrahi from Greenock Prison on compassionate grounds.
Records of a meeting between Libyan Europe minister Abdulati Alobidi and Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill in Glasgow on 10 August, suggest that the prime minister and the foreign secretary did not wish Megrahi to die in a Scottish prison.
I am unjustly convicted of a most heinous crime Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi Do letters end the controversy? Bomber was 'exemplary' prisoner
The document said: "Mr Alobidi spoke of Mr Bill Rammell's visit to Tripoli in February and that they had discussed the matter of the prisoner transfer agreement.
"Mr Alobidi confirmed that he had reiterated to Mr Rammell that the death of Mr Megrahi in a Scottish prison would have catastrophic effects for the relationship between Libya and the UK.
"Mr Alobidi went on to say that Mr Rammell had stated that neither the prime minister not the foreign secretary would want Mr Megrahi to pass away in prison but the decision on transfer lies in the hands of the Scottish ministers."
Other letters reveal Jack Straw changed his mind about excluding the Lockerbie bomber from a proposed prisoner transfer agreement with Libya.
The UK's justice secretary initially agreed it should not include anyone connected with the bombing.The UK's justice secretary initially agreed it should not include anyone connected with the bombing.
But three months later he told the Scottish Government it was in the UK's interests that the agreement take a "standard form" - with no exclusion.But three months later he told the Scottish Government it was in the UK's interests that the agreement take a "standard form" - with no exclusion.
Terminally ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on 20 August.
Documents released by the Scottish and UK governments included claims that the UK minister Bill Rammell had told the Libyans that Prime Minister Gordon Brown did not want Megrahi to die in prison.
The 57-year-old was released by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill on compassionate grounds, after the minister rejected a prisoner transfer request.
The UK government has published its letters to Scottish ministers over the issue, while the Scottish Government has released reports from the Prison Service, Parole Board and medical advice.
I am unjustly convicted of a most heinous crime Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi Do letters end the controversy?
The decision to release Megrahi, eight years into a life sentence for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988, has divided opinion at home and abroad.The decision to release Megrahi, eight years into a life sentence for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988, has divided opinion at home and abroad.
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.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.
The documents published by the Scottish Government included minutes of a meeting between Libyan and Scottish officials on prisoner transfer, which noted concerns that the bomber could be returned to a "fanfare" in Libya.The documents published by the Scottish Government included minutes of a meeting between Libyan and Scottish officials on prisoner transfer, which noted concerns that the bomber could be returned to a "fanfare" in Libya.
Alex Salmond: "The UK government changed its mind twice on this issue"Alex Salmond: "The UK government changed its mind twice on this issue"
The documents also included a handwritten letter from Megrahi to Mr MacAskill in which he said: "I am unjustly convicted of a most heinous crime."The documents also included a handwritten letter from Megrahi to Mr MacAskill in which he said: "I am unjustly convicted of a most heinous crime."
The Ministry of Justice was first to publish several letters from the then Justice Secretary Lord Falconer to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, along with letters from his successor Jack Straw to Mr MacAskill and Mr Salmond.The Ministry of Justice was first to publish several letters from the then Justice Secretary Lord Falconer to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, along with letters from his successor Jack Straw to Mr MacAskill and Mr Salmond.
In a letter to Mr MacAskill in September 2007, Mr Straw agreed with the Scottish Government's proposal that anyone convicted of the Lockerbie bombing would be excluded from a prisoner transfer agreement between the UK and Libya.In a letter to Mr MacAskill in September 2007, Mr Straw agreed with the Scottish Government's proposal that anyone convicted of the Lockerbie bombing would be excluded from a prisoner transfer agreement between the UK and Libya.
But in a follow-up letter, dated 19 December, Mr Straw said he would not be able to secure such an exclusion, writing: "Wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and, in view of the overwhelming interests for the United Kingdom, I have agreed that, in this instance, the PTA should be in the standard form and not mention any individual."But in a follow-up letter, dated 19 December, Mr Straw said he would not be able to secure such an exclusion, writing: "Wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and, in view of the overwhelming interests for the United Kingdom, I have agreed that, in this instance, the PTA should be in the standard form and not mention any individual."
Mr Alobidi confirmed that he had reiterated that the death of Mr Megrahi in a Scottish prison would have catastrophic effects for the relationship between Libya and the UK Notes from the Scottish GovernmentMr Alobidi confirmed that he had reiterated that the death of Mr Megrahi in a Scottish prison would have catastrophic effects for the relationship between Libya and the UK Notes from the Scottish Government
In a further letter to Mr Salmond, on 11 February 2008, Mr Straw said Libya had become an "important partner in the fight against terrorism".In a further letter to Mr Salmond, on 11 February 2008, Mr Straw said Libya had become an "important partner in the fight against terrorism".
He added: "Libya is in a key position to help stem the flow of illegal migrants to the EU and to the UK."He added: "Libya is in a key position to help stem the flow of illegal migrants to the EU and to the UK."
Mr Straw has previously said reports that the Lockerbie bomber was released over an oil deal are "wholly untrue".Mr Straw has previously said reports that the Lockerbie bomber was released over an oil deal are "wholly untrue".
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The UK government, as these letters demonstrate, after initially telling us that they would secure our objective of excluding anyone connected with Lockerbie from prisoner transfer, came eventually to say they would be included."
Other letters from the Foreign Office to the Scottish Government, from July and August this year, claimed no commitment had been given to the US that Megrahi would serve out his sentence in Scotland.Other letters from the Foreign Office to the Scottish Government, from July and August this year, claimed no commitment had been given to the US that Megrahi would serve out his sentence in Scotland.
In July, an unnamed official from the FCO wrote: "While at the time, we considered a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya most unlikely in view of our relations with Libya, the government of the day, in conjunction with the then Lord Advocate, was keen to ensure that any political assurances given to the US would not bind the hands of successor governments.In July, an unnamed official from the FCO wrote: "While at the time, we considered a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya most unlikely in view of our relations with Libya, the government of the day, in conjunction with the then Lord Advocate, was keen to ensure that any political assurances given to the US would not bind the hands of successor governments.
Sir Menzies Campbell: "What was it which persuaded Jack Straw to change his position?"Sir Menzies Campbell: "What was it which persuaded Jack Straw to change his position?"
"The UK Government consequently did not give the US an absolute commitment in relation to the future imprisonment of the Lockerbie accused.""The UK Government consequently did not give the US an absolute commitment in relation to the future imprisonment of the Lockerbie accused."
Meanwhile, a document published by the Scottish Government seems to suggest that Mr Brown and the foreign secretary did not wish Megrahi to die in a Scottish prison. Alex Salmond said the release of the documents demonstrated how the UK government had changed its mind about excluding Megrahi fromt the prisoner transfer deal.
The Libyans said the statement was made by UK Foreign Minister Bill Rammell to a Libyan minister during a meeting in Tripoli in February. He said: "The UK government, as these letters demonstrate, after initially telling us that they would secure our objective of excluding anyone connected with Lockerbie from prisoner transfer, came eventually to say they would be included."
Libya's Minister for Europe Abdulati Alobidi made the claim in a meeting with Mr MacAskill in Glasgow on 10 August.
The document said: "Mr Alobidi spoke of Mr Bill Rammell's visit to Tripoli in February and that they had discussed the matter of the prisoner transfer agreement.
"Mr Alobidi confirmed that he had reiterated to Mr Rammell that the death of Mr Megrahi in a Scottish prison would have catastrophic effects for the relationship between Libya and the UK.
"Mr Alobidi went on to say that Mr Rammell had stated that neither the prime minister not the foreign secretary would want Mr Megrahi to pass away in prison but the decision on transfer lies in the hands of the Scottish ministers."
When asked about this claim, Mr Salmond said: "What I can tell you is that Bill Rammell never spoke to me about it.
"But that is an accurate record of a meeting that took place.
"Whether that truly represents Bill Rammell's opinion, you would have to ask him."