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PM 'opposed bomber jail death' | PM 'opposed bomber jail death' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A British minister told Libya that Gordon Brown did not want the Lockerbie bomber to die in prison, according to Libyan officials. | |
Newly-released documents suggest the foreign office minister Bill Rammell made the comments on a visit to Tripoli in February this year. | Newly-released documents suggest 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 officials in March. | |
Terminally-ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on 20 August. | 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 of Megrahi from Greenock Prison on compassionate grounds. | Both the UK and Scottish governments have made public letters and other documents relating to the release of Megrahi from Greenock Prison on compassionate grounds. |
Mr Brown and UK ministers have declined to say whether they supported freeing Megrahi, stressing it was a decision for the Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. | |
But records of a meeting between Libyan Europe minister Abdulati Alobidi and Scottish officials on March 12 suggested the prime minister and David Miliband, 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 Your views on the controversy Bomber was 'exemplary' prisoner | I am unjustly convicted of a most heinous crime Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi Your views on 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. | 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 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." | "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." |
Mr Rammell responded to the claim, saying: "Neither the Libyans or the Scottish Executive were left in any doubt throughout this entire process that this was a decision for the Scottish Executive over which the UK Government sought no influence." | |
But Conservative Leader David Cameron said the UK Government now stood accused of "double dealing", and called for an inquiry. | But Conservative Leader David Cameron said the UK Government now stood accused of "double dealing", and called for an inquiry. |
He said: "The British Prime Minister has got to be straight with the British people. For weeks he's been refusing to say publicly what he wanted to happen to Megrahi, yet we now learn apparently privately the message was being given to the Libyans that he should be released." | He said: "The British Prime Minister has got to be straight with the British people. For weeks he's been refusing to say publicly what he wanted to happen to Megrahi, yet we now learn apparently privately the message was being given to the Libyans that he should be released." |
Cameron calls for Lockerbie inquiry | Cameron calls for Lockerbie inquiry |
Other letters now made public reveal UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw changed his mind about excluding the Lockerbie bomber from a proposed prisoner transfer agreement with Libya. | |
In a letter to Scottish ministers in September 2007, Mr Straw initially agreed it should not include anyone connected with the bombing. | |
But three months later he said it was in the "wider" UK interests that the agreement take a "standard form" - with no exclusion. | |
In a further letter to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, on 11 February 2008, Mr Straw said Libya had become an "important partner in the fight against terrorism" and was helping to counter illegal immigration. | |
The mother of one of the Lockerbie victims responded to the documents' publication by accusing politicians of putting profits before justice for terrorists. | |
Susan Cohen, who lost her daughter Theodora in the tragedy, said: "It's so obvious that this was something that Blair wanted, that Straw wanted and whoever else wanted. He (Megrahi) was negotiable, he was a chess piece." | |
Another document included a letter from Megrahi to Mr MacAskill in which he said: "I am unjustly convicted of a most heinous crime." | |
Alex Salmond: "The UK government changed its mind twice on this issue" | |
John Mosey, whose daughter 19-year-old Helga was killed, said the families still needed answers about the bombing. | |
Mr Mosey told BBC News: "What we are forgetting is there were 270 people on that plane who have been killed and we have had no proper inquiry, no serious answers." | |
Minutes of a meeting on 10 August between Libyan and Scottish officials on prisoner transfer discussed concerns that the bomber could be returned to a "fanfare" in Libya. | |
The notes said: "Mr Alobidi said he would like to take this opportunity to assure the Scottish Government that if Mr al-Megrahi were to be transferred to Libya that it would be done quietly and peacefully and away from the glare of the media." | The notes said: "Mr Alobidi said he would like to take this opportunity to assure the Scottish Government that if Mr al-Megrahi were to be transferred to Libya that it would be done quietly and peacefully and away from the glare of the media." |
The subsequent hero's welcome given to Megrahi on his return, with some members of the crowd waving Saltires, has drawn much criticism. | The subsequent hero's welcome given to Megrahi on his return, with some members of the crowd waving Saltires, has drawn much criticism. |
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. |