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Lockerbie release to be condemned MSPs to debate bomber's release
(about 1 hour later)
The Scottish Government is facing likely defeat in a Holyrood debate over its handling of the case of the Lockerbie bomber later. The Scottish Government is facing likely defeat later in a Holyrood debate over its handling of the case of the terminally ill Lockerbie bomber.
Opposition MSPs are expected to join forces to defeat the government after Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed on compassionate grounds. Opposition MSPs are expected to join forces to defeat a government motion backing the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.
But the move would fall short of a vote of no confidence in SNP ministers.But the move would fall short of a vote of no confidence in SNP ministers.
Gordon Brown, meanwhile, faces calls to explain why Libyan officials were told he did not want Megrahi to die in jail. The debate comes a day after ministers in London and Edinburgh released a series of documents on the case.
Labour is seeking to amend the Scottish Government motion at Holyrood - that Megrahi's release was in line with prison service and parole board recommendations and consistent with the principles of Scottish justice. Pressure
The Labour amendment states Mr MacAskill mishandled the decision and damaged Scotland's reputation. They have put further pressure on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to explain his position after documents indicated Libyan officials said they had been told he did not want to see Megrahi, who has cancer, die in prison.
Labour is seeking to amend the Scottish Government motion at Holyrood which says that Megrahi's release was in line with prison service and parole board recommendations and consistent with the principles of Scottish justice.
The Labour amendment states Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill mishandled the decision and damaged Scotland's reputation.
It also says the minister should not have met Megrahi in prison while considering his case and that he failed to seek sufficient medical advice on the bomber's condition.It also says the minister should not have met Megrahi in prison while considering his case and that he failed to seek sufficient medical advice on the bomber's condition.
A Conservative amendment has raised concern Megrahi was not allowed to remain in Scotland, a move ruled out by ministers on police resourcing grounds.A Conservative amendment has raised concern Megrahi was not allowed to remain in Scotland, a move ruled out by ministers on police resourcing grounds.
The Liberal Democrats will argue the news of his release should have been announced to parliament, not at a news conference.The Liberal Democrats will argue the news of his release should have been announced to parliament, not at a news conference.
Prison death Divided opinion
The debate will come after a number of documents on the Lockerbie bomber's case were published by the Scottish and UK governments. One document released on Tuesday detailed a Libyan official saying that then Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell had told Tripoli that Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband did not want Megrahi to die in prison.
One document revealed how Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell told Libya that Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband did not want Megrahi to die in prison. Mr Rammell later confirmed an exchange did take place, but insisted he had made it clear to the Libyans that the fate of Megrahi was entirely in the hands of Scottish ministers.
Mr Rammell later confirmed the exchange did take place, but insisted he made it clear to the Libyans that the fate of Megrahi was entirely in the hands of Scottish ministers. He told the BBC he had said the UK government was not "actively seeking" Megrahi's death in prison but denied having discussed this at any point with Mr Brown.
Megrahi served eight years of a life sentence for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988.Megrahi served eight years of a life sentence for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988.
His release has divided opinion at home and abroad and 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. His release last month has divided opinion at home and abroad and 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.