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Brown 'opposed bomber jail death' Brown '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. A British minister told Libya that Gordon Brown did not want the Lockerbie bomber to die in a Scottish prison.
Newly-released documents suggest the foreign office minister Bill Rammell made the comments on a visit to Tripoli in February this year. Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell confirmed he 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. The exchange emerged in newly-released letters and documents relating to the case of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who was freed last month.
Terminally-ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on 20 August. Mr Rammell later insisted he made clear to the Libyans any decision on Megrahi had to come from Scottish ministers.
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. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill allowed terminally-ill Megrahi to be freed from Greenock Prison on 20 August, on compassionate grounds after rejecting his return to Libya under a prisoner transfer agreement.
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. Mr Brown and UK ministers have since declined to say whether they supported freeing Megrahi, stressing it was a decision for the Scottish Government
Bill Rammell: "I was making it emphatically clear that this was a decision for Scottish ministers"Bill Rammell: "I was making it emphatically clear that this was a decision for Scottish ministers"
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.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.
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."
Responding to the claim, Mr Rammell told BBC News: "I was responding to the Libyan Europe minister's concern about al-Megrahi dying in prison. Mr Rammell later told BBC News: "I did say that but we need to put it in context. I was making it emphatically clear that this was a decision for Scottish ministers."
"In specific response to that concern, I made clear we were not actively seeking his death in prison, but we would not and could not intervene in a decision that was a matter for Scottish ministers." 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."
I am unjustly convicted of a most heinous crime Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi Your views on the controversy Bomber was 'exemplary' prisonerI am unjustly convicted of a most heinous crime Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi Your views on the controversy Bomber was 'exemplary' prisoner
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. Other letters now made public by the UK and Scottish governments 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.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.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.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.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."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."Another document included a letter from Megrahi to Mr MacAskill in which he said: "I am unjustly convicted of a most heinous crime."
David Cameron: The government and prime minister stand accusedDavid Cameron: The government and prime minister stand accused
John Mosey, whose daughter 19-year-old Helga was killed, said the families still needed answers about the bombing.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."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.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.