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| Labour bomber stance 'ridiculous' | Labour bomber stance 'ridiculous' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| First Minister Alex Salmond has hit out at Labour's "totally and absolutely ridiculous" position over the release of the Lockerbie bomber. | First Minister Alex Salmond has hit out at Labour's "totally and absolutely ridiculous" position over the release of the Lockerbie bomber. |
| His comments came as the Scottish Government faced likely defeat in a Holyrood debate over the case. | His comments came as the Scottish Government faced likely defeat in a Holyrood debate over the case. |
| The move by opposition parties would fall short of a vote of no-confidence in the SNP government. | The move by opposition parties would fall short of a vote of no-confidence in the SNP government. |
| Scottish ministers freed terminally-ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds two weeks ago. | Scottish ministers freed terminally-ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds two weeks ago. |
| Mr Salmond's attack, in a point of order before the debate got under way, came after UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband confirmed the UK government had not wanted to see Megrahi die in a Scottish prison. | Mr Salmond's attack, in a point of order before the debate got under way, came after UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband confirmed the UK government had not wanted to see Megrahi die in a Scottish prison. |
| But Mr Miliband insisted there had been no "double dealing" and told the BBC the UK had "never expressed a different view" to the US over the issue. | But Mr Miliband insisted there had been no "double dealing" and told the BBC the UK had "never expressed a different view" to the US over the issue. |
| In light of the revelations, Mr Salmond urged Labour to re-think its debate amendment, which condemns the Scottish Government's handling of the case. | In light of the revelations, Mr Salmond urged Labour to re-think its debate amendment, which condemns the Scottish Government's handling of the case. |
| The first minister told parliament: "Is it in order, in terms of our procedures, since the credibility of this parliament depends to some extent on the credibility of the main opposition party, to allow the Labour Party to submit a drafting amendment, because their current position looks totally and absolutely ridiculous." | The first minister told parliament: "Is it in order, in terms of our procedures, since the credibility of this parliament depends to some extent on the credibility of the main opposition party, to allow the Labour Party to submit a drafting amendment, because their current position looks totally and absolutely ridiculous." |
| When Mr al-Megrahi chose to make representations in person, clear advice was given to me that this could hardly be denied Kenny MacAskillScottish justice secretary | When Mr al-Megrahi chose to make representations in person, clear advice was given to me that this could hardly be denied Kenny MacAskillScottish justice secretary |
| Despite the comments, Scottish Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker insisted Mr MacAskill mishandled the Lockerbie bomber case and had damaged Scotland as a result. | Despite the comments, Scottish Labour justice spokesman Richard Baker insisted Mr MacAskill mishandled the Lockerbie bomber case and had damaged Scotland as a result. |
| The debate came a day after the Scottish Government released a list of documents on the issue, which included a report that a Libyan official had said Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell had told them the prime minister and foreign secretary did not want the Lockerbie bomber to die in a Scottish prison. | The debate came a day after the Scottish Government released a list of documents on the issue, which included a report that a Libyan official had said Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell had told them the prime minister and foreign secretary did not want the Lockerbie bomber to die in a Scottish prison. |
| Mr Rammell has since confirmed he told Libya Mr Brown did not want to see Megrahi die in prison. However, he denied having discussed this with Gordon Brown. | Mr Rammell has since confirmed he told Libya Mr Brown did not want to see Megrahi die in prison. However, he denied having discussed this with Gordon Brown. |
| Mr Brown later said there was "no conspiracy" leading to the release of the Lockerbie bomber, adding that there had also been "no cover-up" over the UK's dealings with the Scottish or Libyan governments. | |
| Mr Baker told MSPs: "I believe we should make clear that there were fundamental errors in the management of this process and therefore the decision to release Mr al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds to Libya is one we cannot agree with. | Mr Baker told MSPs: "I believe we should make clear that there were fundamental errors in the management of this process and therefore the decision to release Mr al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds to Libya is one we cannot agree with. |
| 'Plot thickens' | 'Plot thickens' |
| "The first minister might not like it, but his government will be held to account for the decision he and his ministers have made." | "The first minister might not like it, but his government will be held to account for the decision he and his ministers have made." |
| The Scottish Conservatives' Bill Aitken said freeing Megrahi was a "mistake of international proportions". | The Scottish Conservatives' Bill Aitken said freeing Megrahi was a "mistake of international proportions". |
| He added: "To me, it is becoming abundantly clear that he decided to release Megrahi to Libya and has been scrambling around ever since to find the evidence to justify that decision. | He added: "To me, it is becoming abundantly clear that he decided to release Megrahi to Libya and has been scrambling around ever since to find the evidence to justify that decision. |
| "From the evidence that's emerged overnight, I also believe the Brown Government thought that Mr Megrahi would be released, should be released, and was giving nudges and winks to the Libyans that that would be the case. The plot thickens - deals were clearly being done." | "From the evidence that's emerged overnight, I also believe the Brown Government thought that Mr Megrahi would be released, should be released, and was giving nudges and winks to the Libyans that that would be the case. The plot thickens - deals were clearly being done." |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown said "considerable doubt" remained over whether Megrahi fulfilled the criteria for compassionate release. | Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown said "considerable doubt" remained over whether Megrahi fulfilled the criteria for compassionate release. |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill again defended his decision | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill again defended his decision |
| "It is extremely difficult to see how any future cabinet secretary could refuse any valid application for compassionate release, however heinous the crime, however short the time served, if the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing gets out after serving only a fortnight for each victim's life," he said. | "It is extremely difficult to see how any future cabinet secretary could refuse any valid application for compassionate release, however heinous the crime, however short the time served, if the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing gets out after serving only a fortnight for each victim's life," he said. |
| Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill again defended his decision to release the bomber and reject an application to return Megrahi to Libya under a prisoner transfer deal. | Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill again defended his decision to release the bomber and reject an application to return Megrahi to Libya under a prisoner transfer deal. |
| Mr MacAskill said he had no option but to meet Megrahi in prison while considering the case. | Mr MacAskill said he had no option but to meet Megrahi in prison while considering the case. |
| He added: "When Mr al-Megrahi chose to make representations in person, clear advice was given to me that this could hardly be denied." | He added: "When Mr al-Megrahi chose to make representations in person, clear advice was given to me that this could hardly be denied." |
| And the justice secretary also hit out at opposition claims he failed to seek sufficient medical advice on Megrahi's condition, telling MSPs this included comments from Scottish Prison Service director of health, Dr Andrew Fraser, "one of Scotland's most eminent doctors". | And the justice secretary also hit out at opposition claims he failed to seek sufficient medical advice on Megrahi's condition, telling MSPs this included comments from Scottish Prison Service director of health, Dr Andrew Fraser, "one of Scotland's most eminent doctors". |
| Mr MacAskill said: "Dr Fraser had access to all Mr al-Megrahi's medical records and conferred with NHS consultants as part of drafting his advice on compassionate release. | Mr MacAskill said: "Dr Fraser had access to all Mr al-Megrahi's medical records and conferred with NHS consultants as part of drafting his advice on compassionate release. |
| "This included the NHS cancer consultant who acted as an external reviewer. | "This included the NHS cancer consultant who acted as an external reviewer. |
| "The suggestion that the SPS director of health and social care was not consulting relevant specialists is totally inaccurate." | "The suggestion that the SPS director of health and social care was not consulting relevant specialists is totally inaccurate." |
| Megrahi served eight years of a life sentence in Scotland for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988. | Megrahi served eight years of a life sentence in Scotland for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie in December 1988. |
| His release last month has divided opinion at home and abroad. | His release last month has divided opinion at home and abroad. |