This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/8230722.stm

The article has changed 29 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Ministers publish Lockerbie files Ministers publish Lockerbie files
(9 minutes later)
UK ministers have released documents detailing their correspondence with the Scottish Government over the fate of the Lockerbie bomber.UK ministers have released documents detailing their correspondence with the Scottish Government over the fate of the Lockerbie bomber.
The Scottish Government is also set to publish documents it says will justify the decision to release the Libyan on compassionate grounds.The Scottish Government is also set to publish documents it says will justify the decision to release the Libyan on compassionate grounds.
Eight letters between the governments, dating back to 2007, were published on the UK Ministry of Justice's website.Eight letters between the governments, dating back to 2007, were published on the UK Ministry of Justice's website.
Terminally ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on 20 August.Terminally ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on 20 August.
The Scottish Government announced the publication amid strong criticism of the decision to release Megrahi.The Scottish Government announced the publication amid strong criticism of the decision to release Megrahi.
Westminster sources have indicated the UK government correspondence is said to support its position that no deals were done with Libya to secure Megrahi's freedom.Westminster sources have indicated the UK government correspondence is said to support its 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 The UK government's lettersOutrage at this has crossed continents and damaged our relationship with our closest ally, America. It has been a fiasco David Cameron The UK government's letters
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.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."
Mr MacAskill said the Scottish Government was seeking to act "openly and accountably" and had "nothing to hide".Mr MacAskill said the Scottish Government was seeking to act "openly and accountably" and had "nothing to hide".
'Due process''Due process'
"There's some information that people don't want to be released and we're not going to force that," he said."There's some information that people don't want to be released and we're not going to force that," he said.
"But we've got nothing to hide and therefore we are delivering on what we said - which is that we would act according to due process, following the rules and guidance in Scotland, and we would publish what we were entitled to.""But we've got nothing to hide and therefore we are delivering on what we said - which is that we would act according to due process, following the rules and guidance in Scotland, and we would publish what we were entitled to."
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 The question is, is it all the documents involved? Ed DaveyLib Dem foreign affairs spokesman class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6942&edition=1&ttl=20090901152103">Send us your comments
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.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?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?""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?"
The publication of documents in Scotland came ahead of a government-led Holyrood debate on the case on Wednesday.The publication of documents in Scotland came ahead of a government-led Holyrood debate on the case on Wednesday.
The government motion for Wednesday's debate 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.The government motion for Wednesday's debate 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.
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 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.